The low end of the global solar thermal market is currently dominated by China, India and Japan.
Between them, they have 75% of the global market for solar thermal collectors and ancillary equipment.
This is a reflection of the current low tech stage of development in the industry which may well change
as the market bifurcates and the new solar generating plants reach commercialisation. The industry has
been concentrated primarily on small-sale use to date, with large systems for commercial application to
generate power now developing.
China has a well established low-tech commercial solar thermal industry with over a thousand factories
manufacturing and selling solar systems. Most of these collectors are used to heat water, and are sold
without subsidies. Solar water heating technology has made great progress and provides people in
urban and rural areas with cost-effective energy services.
Solar thermal energy is competing with electricity in the supply of hot water in China. By the end of
2000 the accumulated installed area of solar water heater (SWH) systems in China was 26 million m2;
far greater than the European Commission's target of 15 million m2 in 2004. The annual sales volume
reached 6 million m2 in 2000, up from 4 million m2 in 1999. Whether they will build the next largest solar power station remains to be seen, what is likely is that they will probably at some point be able to lay claim to having the largest as they lead the way in solar power demand.
To read more about solar power you can visit my blog at http://worldenergydiscussion.blogspot.com/

This is great news, but I am skeptical. I live in Western China and don't find much thought put into any kind of conservation. I am sure the East will do a lot more as our air in the West will remain crappy.

China's been planning this for 3 years - so far nothing is on the ground.