Recently, the National Energy Administration (NEA) held its 2017 Poverty Alleviation Leading Group meeting, outlining four key tasks, with the steady advancement of photovoltaic poverty alleviation prominently featured. As an innovative application model of targeted poverty alleviation through industry and one of the ten major national targeted poverty alleviation projects, the comprehensive advancement of my country's photovoltaic poverty alleviation project has likely been placed on the important agenda, given the central government's focus on poverty alleviation this year.

Key Tasks of the NEA's Poverty Alleviation Work in 2017

　　It is understood that the four key tasks outlined by the NEA at this meeting are as follows: First, to fully implement the plans. Strengthen coordination with relevant parties and plans, effectively leverage the guiding role of plans in poverty alleviation, and focus on promoting major projects identified in the "13th Five-Year Plan for Energy Development" (People's Livelihood Section) and the "Overall Plan for the Integration of NEA's Targeted Assistance and Provincial-Level Units in Promoting Poverty Alleviation in Tongwei County and Qingshui County (2016-2020)". Second, to comprehensively promote the upgrading and transformation of rural power grids. To achieve stable and reliable power supply services in rural areas and full electrification of wells in plain areas, especially in areas where relocated residents are resettled, electricity must be readily available to ensure that wherever people move, electricity is available. Solid progress will be made in key livelihood projects such as the upgrading and electrification of power grids in 100 county towns in Tibetan areas and the demonstration project of clean heating in 100 rural schools. Thirdly, clean heating in winter will be promoted in impoverished areas. The "Northern Region Winter Clean Heating Plan (2017-2020)" will be formulated and implemented, along with supporting policies, prioritizing support for impoverished areas in clean energy supply, infrastructure construction, and pilot demonstrations. Fourthly, photovoltaic poverty alleviation projects will be steadily promoted.

　　Poverty alleviation is a top priority for the government.

　　At the recent National People's Congress and the Chinese People's Political Consultative Conference (NPC & CPPCC), Premier Li Keqiang mentioned poverty alleviation eight times and poverty eradication seven times in his 2017 Government Work Report, proposing a target of reducing the rural poor population by another 10 million this year. This demonstrates the importance the State Council attaches to winning the battle against poverty.

　　It is understood that this is not the first time photovoltaic poverty alleviation has appeared in an important national policy document. On November 29, 2015, the State Council issued the "Decision of the CPC Central Committee and the State Council on Winning the Battle Against Poverty" (hereinafter referred to as the "Decision"). This 12,560-word document proposed ensuring that the rural poor population would be lifted out of poverty by 2020, and mentioned photovoltaics four times. The original text is as follows:

　　Explore asset-based poverty alleviation. Without changing the intended use, assets formed by special fiscal poverty alleviation funds and other agricultural funds invested in projects such as facility agriculture, animal husbandry, photovoltaics, hydropower, and rural tourism, where conditions permit, can be converted into shares and allocated to impoverished villages and households, especially those who have lost their ability to work.

　　Accelerate the upgrading and transformation of rural power grids in impoverished areas, comprehensively improve the power supply capacity and quality of rural power grids, formulate plans for providing power to impoverished villages, and improve the level of universal electricity service in impoverished areas. Increase the annual power generation quota for impoverished areas. Increase the proportion of electricity retained in hydropower projects in impoverished areas. Accelerate the implementation of photovoltaic poverty alleviation projects, support the connection of photovoltaic power generation facilities to the power grid, and develop photovoltaic agriculture.

Multiple Ministries Jointly "Safeguard" Photovoltaic Poverty Alleviation

　　On March 23, 2016, five ministries—the National Development and Reform Commission (NDRC), the State Council Leading Group Office of Poverty Alleviation and Development, the National Energy Administration, the China Development Bank, and the Agricultural Development Bank of China—jointly issued the "Opinions on Implementing Photovoltaic Power Generation Poverty Alleviation Work" (NDRC Energy [2016] No. 621), clarifying the development strategy and guidelines for promoting photovoltaic poverty alleviation projects in terms of work objectives and principles, key tasks, and supporting policies and measures.

　　The "Opinions" proposed that before 2020, the focus would be on approximately 35,000 registered impoverished villages in 471 counties across 16 provinces with good sunlight conditions, where pilot projects had been conducted previously. This would be implemented on a village-wide basis, ensuring that 2 million registered impoverished households without labor capacity (including disabled persons) would increase their annual income by more than 3,000 yuan per household. Other impoverished areas with good sunlight conditions could implement the project according to local conditions and in accordance with the requirements of targeted poverty alleviation.

　　In October 2016, the National Energy Administration and the State Council Leading Group Office of Poverty Alleviation and Development jointly issued the "Notice on Issuing the First Batch of Photovoltaic Poverty Alleviation Projects" (hereinafter referred to as the "Photovoltaic Poverty Alleviation Project Notice"), and the list of projects was subsequently announced. Photovoltaic poverty alleviation projects were included in 14 provinces: Hebei, Henan, Anhui, Shanxi, Shandong, Hubei, Shaanxi, Yunnan, Gansu, Jilin, Jiangxi, Jiangsu, Hunan, and Liaoning.

Photovoltaic Poverty Alleviation Receives Priority Financial Support

　　It is worth mentioning that, in order to achieve the goal of building a moderately prosperous society for all, the state has increased its financial support for poverty alleviation. The government work report at the Two Sessions shows that, in order to achieve the goal of reducing the rural poor population by more than 10 million and completing the relocation of 3.4 million people for poverty alleviation, the central government's special poverty alleviation funds will increase by more than 30% this year.

　　Encouragingly, the central government's increased funding and policies for poverty alleviation are being steadily implemented.

　　Recently, the Ministry of Finance, together with the Poverty Alleviation Office, the National Development and Reform Commission, the State Ethnic Affairs Commission, the Ministry of Agriculture, and the State Forestry Administration, issued a notice on the "Management Measures for Central Government Special Poverty Alleviation Funds," which makes overall provisions for poverty alleviation in terms of budget allocation and fund distribution, scope of fund expenditure and disbursement, and fund management and supervision.

Local Photovoltaic Poverty Alleviation Achievements are Remarkable

　　Under the poverty alleviation management system of "central government coordination, provincial responsibility, and city and county implementation," my country's photovoltaic poverty alleviation projects are being promoted in a comprehensive and intensive manner.

(I) Changde plans to build photovoltaic poverty alleviation power stations in 123 villages this year

　　In 2017, Changde City secured photovoltaic poverty alleviation construction plans for 123 villages and is currently working on the preliminary work for the projects, aiming to connect all projects to the grid for power generation by the end of the year.

　　On October 17, 2016, Changde's first photovoltaic poverty alleviation project held its launch ceremony in Guanfengshan Village, Weixin Town, Shimen County. As of now, of the 20 village-level photovoltaic poverty alleviation projects assigned by the province in 2016, 12 village photovoltaic power stations have been connected to the grid, with the Shipin Village photovoltaic power station in Zaoshi Town, Shimen County, generating 4,600 kilowatt-hours. The main construction of the photovoltaic power stations in the other 8 villages has been completed, and they are expected to be connected to the grid by mid-April 2017.

(II) Bozhou City Rapidly Launches a Wave of Photovoltaic Poverty Alleviation Power Station Construction

　　It is reported that in 2015, Lixin County was listed as a national pilot county for photovoltaic poverty alleviation. The county seized this significant opportunity and accelerated the progress of photovoltaic poverty alleviation work. Currently, the total installed capacity of photovoltaic poverty alleviation power stations in the county has reached 201.95 MW. Of this, 18.3 MW was built in 2015 and is already connected to the grid and generating benefits; 97.53 MW was built in 2016, including one 32.76 MW photovoltaic power station jointly built by 175 villages in Kantuan, and 346 village-level photovoltaic power stations with a capacity of 187.2 kW. The jointly built photovoltaic power station is already connected to the grid, and 186 of the 346 village-level photovoltaic power stations have been completed and connected to the grid, with the remainder to be completed and connected by the end of April; 86.12 MW is under construction in 2017, with the main construction planned for completion by the end of May and all stations to be connected to the grid by the end of June.

(III) Steady Progress in Photovoltaic Poverty Alleviation in Nanling County

　　On March 22, 2017, the Nanling County Poverty Alleviation Office, the Nanling County Town Government, the Development and Reform Commission, and the Nanling Power Supply Company jointly visited Huangmu Village, Xuzhen Town, Nanling County, to conduct pre-construction coordination work for the photovoltaic poverty alleviation project.

　　It is reported that two photovoltaic poverty alleviation projects in Nanling County in 2016 are located in Huangmu Village, Xuzhen Town, and Qiao Village, Gongshan Town, respectively. The total installed capacity is 120kW. After the government bidding process concluded, construction is expected to begin on the 25th of this month and be completed by the end of April. Nanling Power Supply Company is coordinating preparations and will organize acceptance and grid connection immediately upon completion. After completion, the poverty alleviation power stations will be directly connected to the low-voltage power grid of the area, and it is expected to bring each of the two poverty-stricken villages an annual income of 50,000 yuan, effectively alleviating the poverty alleviation pressure on these villages.

(IV) Jiangxi Nanfeng: Photovoltaic Poverty Alleviation "Illuminates" the Path to Prosperity for Impoverished Households

　　To achieve targeted poverty alleviation, Nanfeng County, Jiangxi Province, actively explored a new path for poverty alleviation through the photovoltaic industry. Through government-enterprise subsidies, bank "photovoltaic loans," and "company-farmer" joint ventures, the county utilizes the rooftop resources of residents' houses to develop the photovoltaic power generation industry, guiding impoverished households out of poverty and towards prosperity. It is estimated that by the end of this year, "photovoltaic poverty alleviation" will cover more than 2,300 impoverished households in the county, and it is expected that within the next five years, more than 12,000 households will be lifted out of poverty through the photovoltaic power generation industry.

　　More than 70 new energy companies are "supporting" the effort.

　　Photovoltaic poverty alleviation has not only become an important means for local governments to complete their poverty alleviation tasks, but it has also received positive responses and strong support from photovoltaic companies.

　　According to incomplete statistics, more than 70 new energy companies, including Huadian International, GCL New Energy, Shougang New Energy, Yingli Solar, Three Gorges New Energy, CDB New Energy, and Elion Group, have participated in the construction of photovoltaic poverty alleviation projects. Among them, GCL New Energy ranks first with a capacity of 250 megawatts.

　　Photovoltaic poverty alleviation may be fully promoted.

　　Senior photovoltaic commentators said that in the crucial year of the "13th Five-Year Plan," the National Energy Administration's deployment of key tasks for photovoltaic poverty alleviation marks the official and comprehensive acceleration of my country's photovoltaic poverty alleviation work. With the country encouraging and supporting distributed photovoltaics, photovoltaic poverty alleviation and rooftop photovoltaics will undoubtedly become the two most dazzling features of the photovoltaic market in 2017.