BEIJING - China is planning to expand pilot programs for promoting the domestic use of photovoltaic (PV) power generation by launching a batch of new pilot projects before the year's end, an official statement said Monday.

The Ministry of Finance said in a statement jointly released with three other government departments that local authorities can apply for new pilot projects to be included in two pilot programs aimed at promoting PV power generation.

The statement said the government encourages the experimental application of new technologies and products in order to promote technological advancement.

The Golden Sun pilot program, one of the two programs, was first launched in 2009 to grant subsidies to qualified PV power generation projects.

The other program aims to promote the application of PV power in buildings.