How Are Solar Energy Resources Distributed in China?

China has abundant total solar radiation resources, generally characterized by plateaus greater than plains, and western dry areas greater than eastern humid areas. Among them, the Qinghai-Tibet Plateau is the most abundant, with annual total radiation exceeding 1800 kWh/m2, and some areas even exceeding 2000 kWh/m2. The Sichuan Basin has relatively low resources, with some areas below 1000 kWh/m2.

National table of total solar radiation levels and regional distribution

Most abundant zone: annual total >= 6300 MJ/m2 (>= 1750 kWh/m2), annual average irradiance approx. >= 200 W/m2, covering approx. 22.8% of the national land area: west of Ejina Banner in Inner Mongolia, west of Jiuquan in Gansu, most areas west of 100 degrees E in Qinghai, most areas west of 94 degrees E in Tibet, the eastern edge of Xinjiang, and parts of Ganzi, Sichuan.

Very abundant zone: annual total 5040-6300 MJ/m2 (1400-1750 kWh/m2), annual average irradiance approx. 160-200 W/m2, covering approx. 44.0% of the national land area: most of Xinjiang, most areas east of Ejina Banner in Inner Mongolia, western Heilongjiang, western Jilin, western Liaoning, most of Hebei, Beijing, Tianjin, eastern Shandong, most of Shanxi, northern Shaanxi, Ningxia, most areas east of Jiuquan in Gansu, the eastern edge of Qinghai, areas east of 94 degrees E in Tibet, central and western Sichuan, most of Yunnan, and Hainan.

Relatively abundant zone: annual total 3780-5040 MJ/m2 (1050-1400 kWh/m2), annual average irradiance approx. 120-160 W/m2, covering approx. 29.8% of the national land area: north of 50 degrees N in Inner Mongolia, most of Heilongjiang, central and eastern Jilin, central and eastern Liaoning, central and western Shandong, southern Shanxi, south-central Shaanxi, the eastern edge of Gansu, central Sichuan, the eastern edge of Yunnan, southern Guizhou, most of Hunan, most of Hubei, Guangxi, Guangdong, Fujian, Jiangxi, Zhejiang, Anhui, Jiangsu and Henan.

General zone: annual total < 3780 MJ/m2 (< 1050 kWh/m2), annual average irradiance approx. < 120 W/m2, covering approx. 3.3% of the national land area: eastern Sichuan, most of Chongqing, north-central Guizhou, areas west of 110 degrees E in Hubei, and northwestern Hunan.

National map of total horizontal solar radiation