China begins producing solar energy cells for first time

The first solar cell factories were located in Ningbo and Kaifeng. Annual national solar capacity installations were still low, as only 0.5 kW of photovoltaic capacity was installed. This increased to 8 kW in 1980, 70 kW in 1985, 500 kW in 1990, and 1550 kW in 1995. Soon, China would become the world’s undisputed leader in solar energy production.