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On June 10, 2021, the 29th meeting of the Standing Committee of the 13th National People's Congress passed the Hainan Free Trade Port Law of the People's Republic of China, which determined to establish and improve the Hainan Free Trade Port customs supervision special zone system with closed-off customs operations on the entire island.
In April 2018, China announced plans to transform the island into a pilot free trade zone, with a long-term vision of developing a free trade port with Chinese characteristics. A master plan released in 2020 aimed to make Hainan a globally influential hub for high-level openness by mid-century.
Wang Yang publishes an official definition of a free port in the People’s Daily. Announcement of a free trade zone covering the entire island of Hainan during the 30th anniversary of the Special Economic Zone. Launch of the Master Plan for the construction of the Hainan Free Port, aiming for global status by 2050.
With a zero-tariff system fundamentally in place after the independent customs operation, high-quality global resources can flow into Hainan with greater freedom and efficiency, Wu said. Trade liberalization and facilitation are defining features of a free trade port.
Among all RET resources, solar photovoltaic (PV) systems are the most widely used off-grid solutions in remote and rural regions . This is due to the presence of abundant solar irradiance in most parts of the world and the decreasing cost of PV systems and accessories.
It is also demonstrated in IEA-PVPS Report T9-13:2013 that PV hybrid systems are technically and economically feasible as a standalone off-grid power supply system for remote and rural communities worldwide .
Therefore, off-grid solutions are considered an integral part of the standalone off-grid power supply (SOPS) systems in the remote and rural areas by energy planners. Diesel-powered systems are primarily chosen to electrify these areas due to low capital cost and consolidated supply chain in the regions .
A study conducted by Lombardi et al. (2016) proposed a framework to be used for planning new isolated power systems or upgrading the old ones in remote Russian regions. The framework was based on the AHP, aided with microgrid energy flow simulation using HOMER Energy tool.
Distributed solar generation capacity grew from less than 1 gigawatt (GW) in 2018 to 40 GW in 2025 through June, accounting for 43% of all electricity capacity additions over that period. In 2012, Brazil implemented net metering policies, which have recently contributed to large increases in distributed solar generation capacity.
Brazil is blessed with solar radiation resources and has become one of the pioneers in the development of renewable energy in South America. Today, Brazil's distributed installed capacity has surpassed centralized power stations, accounting for 71% of the total installed capacity.
Brazil expects to have 1.2 million solar power generation systems in the year 2024. Solar energy has great potential in Brazil, with the country having one of the highest levels of insolation in the world at 4.25 to 6.5 sun hours/day. As of 2019, Brazil generated nearly 45% of its energy, or 83% of its electricity, from renewable sources.
The total installed solar power in Brazil was estimated at 53.9 GW at February 2025, which consists of about 21.9% of the country's electricity matrix. In 2023, Brazil was the 6th country in the world in terms of installed solar power capacity (37.4 GW).
The power station will be built in phases, with the first phase of 25 megawatts capacity followed by the second phase of equal magnitude. The energy from this solar plant will be integrated into the Beninese national electricity grid, during the 25 years of the solar farm's expected lifespan.
The solar farm is under development by the Government of Benin, with funding from the European Union (EU), the French Development Agency (AFD) and the Beninese Electricity Company (SBEE). The power station will be built in phases, with the first phase of 25 megawatts capacity followed by the second phase of equal magnitude.
The Beninese government selected the French engineering and construction conglomerate Eiffage to design, construct, operate, maintain the solar farm for the first three years of commercial operation, then transfer it to SBEE. Eiffage in turn, tasked two of its subsidiaries, Eiffage Énergie Systèmes and RMT to carry out the task.
"We will strive to build the Hainan Free Trade Port into an important gateway leading China's opening up in the new era, contributing to the sustained development of the Chinese economy as well as injecting stability and certainty into the world economy," said Yuan, assistant minister of commerce. ■
In April 2018, China announced plans to transform the island into a pilot free trade zone, with a long-term vision of developing a free trade port with Chinese characteristics. A master plan released in 2020 aimed to make Hainan a globally influential hub for high-level openness by mid-century.
VCG China's Hainan Free Trade Port (FTP) will officially begin island-wide independent customs operations on December 18, 2025, marking a major milestone in the country's push for higher-level openness, according to a press conference on the development of the port held by the State Council Information Office on Wednesday.
"With the independent customs operations, Hainan FTP is poised to become a key gateway for China's new era of opening up and innovation," Cai added. China's Hainan Free Trade Port (FTP) is set to launch an island-wide independent customs operation on Dec. 18, 2025, underscoring the country's wider push for high-standard opening up.
