Shoddy solar water heaters threaten industry reputation: association leader (5)

The government promotes solar power use through home appliance subsidies in rural areas. Last year, 243 solar water heater producers were approved for the subsidy scheme.
China had an estimated 150 million square meters of solar water heater panels installed by last year, and the figure was expected to hit 300 million square meters in 2020, with an industry turnover of 300 billion yuan (45.6 million U.S. dollar), the National Development and Reform Committee forecast in 2009.
China produced 49 million cubic meters of solar water heater tanks last year. The total output value reached 73.5 billion yuan, an annual rise of 22.5 percent, according to the China Association of Rural Energy Industry.