The National Energy Administration will further raise the target for distributed photovoltaic power generation installation, in a move to support Chinese solar companies, which are struggling after the United States imposed heavy duties on their products.

The administration recently released a notice for the new round of distributed PV power installation projects. According to the notice, companies in every province or autonomous region can apply for up to 500 mW.

The program may lead to 15 gW worth of projects nationally, about 50 percent more than the target set by the 12th Five-Year Plan (2011-15).

According to the 12th Five-Year Plan on solar power development, which was issued by the administration in early September, China should install distributed solar power generation systems providing 10 gW of installed power capacity.

The plan said that the investment in distributed solar power generation is expected to reach 150 billion yuan ($23.81 billion) by 2015.