Jinzhou, a city in Liaoning province, is different from other cities that also lie in the region's coastal economic belt because the photovoltaic (PV) industry is its pillar sector.

Workers measure newly produced monocrystalline silicon crucibles in a plant in Jinzhou. The city in Liaoning province has ambitious plans in the photovoltaic industry.

The PV industry, which refers to environmentally friendly solar energy, contains polysilicon, monocrystalline silicon, silicon chips, solar panels and components as well as numerous add-on sectors.

According to the World Energy Forum (WEF), the demand for solar products will increase at an average annual rate of 35 percent in the following decade. As a result, solar cells will be a major power supply of the future.

More and more countries, such as Japan and Germany, have noticed the importance of this "green energy" and pushed for solar energy projects.

The Jinzhou authorities also realize the potential of the PV industry and have made great efforts to develop the industry.

The city has planned a 2500-mu PV industrial park in the Xihai industrial zone.

The first-stage construction with 1,500 mu area will be completed by 2010. Many companies have already set up in the park and begun operations.

"By 2015, output of the PV industry will reach 100 billion yuan," Jinzhou mayor Wang Wenquan said.

The city is said to have a solid foundation for developing the solar power industry, with the first PV company formed in the city in 1997.

After just 11 years of progress, the annual output of the industry in the area has reached 2.5 billion yuan to rank second within the sector nationwide.

Jinzhou currently has 17 PV enterprises, all part of an extensive industrial chain.

The city has also set up a fund to develop the industry, with the Sunshine Group (HK) Investment Co Ltd planning to match the authorities' 40 million yuan input to that effect.

"It is not enough for several enterprises to be involved in the industry. We need technology, so we've build many R&D centers. We've also set up a 'solar power college' to train and set aside talent," Wang said.

A public testing center was also built in Jinzhou's Bohai University last year, with the facility expected to service PV companies from across the nation.

Similarly, in line with sustainable development, the local government has formed links with many universities to train talent as well as develop R&D and other fields in Liaoning.

"In the future, Jinzhou will be the biggest silicon material production base in China, the largest solar panel and components production base in the Northeast and the 'green energy center' of Liaoning province, " Wang said.