On the 23rd, Jiang Feng, Secretary General of the China Household Appliances Association, stated that the promotion of household appliances to rural areas has brought development opportunities for solar water heater enterprises. If the penetration rate of solar water heaters in rural areas reaches 20%, it will bring more than 120 billion yuan in sales to the entire industry.

    On May 14, 2009, the bidding results for solar home appliances going to rural areas were announced, with 92 companies winning the bid, including 13 traditional home appliance brands.

    The solar water heater is currently the most widely used and technologically mature in solar thermal utilization, mainly providing hot water for daily life and bathing. According to a recent research report by the Energy Institute of the National Development and Reform Commission, by the end of 2008, the operational inventory of solar water heaters in China had reached 135 million square meters, with an annual production capacity exceeding 25 million square meters. Currently, both usage and annual output account for more than half of the world's total, and the development of solar water heaters has taken the lead in the world.

    At present, solar water heaters have basically achieved commercialization, forming a rapidly expanding industry in terms of product processing, raw material development and manufacturing, while driving the development of glass, metal, insulation materials and vacuum industries. Especially vacuum tube water heaters, which occupy a leading position in the world.

    The National Development and Reform Commission has clearly set the goal of utilizing solar thermal energy in the "Eleventh Five Year Plan" for renewable energy. By 2010, the total area will reach 150 million square meters, equivalent to 27 million tons of standard coal.

    Jiang Feng pointed out that sending solar water heaters to rural areas is conducive to regulating the industry and promoting industrial upgrading. According to incomplete statistics, there are currently thousands of solar water heater production enterprises in China, with manual workshop style screwdriver factories accounting for the majority. Issues such as the proliferation of solar water heater brands have hindered the further expansion of China's solar water heater market. (Source: China Securities Journal)