Solar Photovoltaic Investment Changes across China Regions Using a Spatial Shift-Share Analysis

Solar photovoltaic (PV) has become the fastest-growing new energy in China and one of main contributors to China’s clean transition. From 2013 2019, solar PV installed capacity grew from 15,890 MW 204,180 MW, increasing by 11.85 times. To explore investment changes across regions, we use spatial shift-share analysis model decompose 2019 into four components: national growth effect (NEG), structure (NES), neighbor–nation competitive (NNC), region–neighbor (RNC). Based on decomposition results, find that value NNC most western provinces is negative for entire period, while central eastern middle lower range. There little difference RNC among these regions. While comparing influence caused effects, play dominant roles provinces, which means NEG NES have relatively small impacts. By contrast, affect at a larger scale provinces. Comparing RNC, played prominent role west.