## 2 Methodology
### Expert Interviews  
Semi-structure interviews were undertaken with experts to solicit professional views about the core abilities of distributed PV-generation projects. With the collected index from literature reviews and feasibility reports, more rational and important factors were also chosen. In addition, the interviews also helped to group the indexes. In this study, 13 industry experts were interviewed from different specializations and companies, such as 3 PV module manufactures, 1 PV-generation technology \begin{table}
\begin{tabular}{c c c c c c} \hline \hline
**Main Aspects** & \multicolumn{2}{c}{**Specific Content**} & \multicolumn{2}{c}{**Mentioned No. of Times**} \\ \hline \multirow{4}{*}{Production} & [PERSON], et al. [12], & & & \\  & [PERSON], et al. [21], [PERSON], et al. [25], & & & \\  & [PERSON], et al. [32] figured that the output & & & \\  & features are the basic drivers for PV power generation. & & & \\ \hline \multirow{4}{*}{Economy} & Most researchers considered that the business models & & & \\  & and financing and tariff mechanisms are the main factors & & & \\  & in economic evaluation of PV projects, such as [PERSON] & 5 & \\  & and [PERSON] [18], [PERSON], et al. [22] & & & \\  & and so on. & & & \\ \hline \multirow{4}{*}{Environment} & Environmental effects of PV generation are another & & & \\  & important aspect in PV project evaluation proposed by & & & \\  & [PERSON], et al. [11], and [PERSON], et al. [24]. & & & \\ \hline \multirow{2}{*}{Policy} & [PERSON], et al. [16] focused on policy influences & & & \\  & on PV. & & & & \\ \hline \hline \end{tabular}
\end{table} 
Table 1: _Cont._  
\begin{table}
\begin{tabular}{c c c c c c} \hline \hline
**Main Dimension** & **Report 1** & **Report 2** & **Report 3** & **Report 4** & **Report 5** & **Total** \\ \hline Generation resource & \(\surd\) & \(\surd\) & \(\surd\) & \(\surd\) & \(\surd\) & 5 \\ Geological condition & \(\surd\) & \(\surd\) & \(\surd\) & \(\surd\) & \(\surd\) & 5 \\ Organization & & \(\surd\) & \(\surd\) & \(\surd\) & \(\surd\) & 4 \\ Management process & & \(\surd\) & \(\surd\) & \(\surd\) & \(\surd\) & 4 \\ Electrical design & \(\surd\) & \(\surd\) & \(\surd\) & \(\surd\) & \(\surdresearcher, 2 power industry investors, 4 PV plant operators, 1 power-grid company and 2 consulting companies. In particular, they were [PERSON] (production head) and [PERSON] (senior engineer) from JinkoSolar Company (Shangrao, China); [PERSON] (general manager) from TrinaSolar Company (Changzhou, China); [PERSON] (technology R&D engineer), [PERSON] (engineer) and [PERSON] (deputy head) from State Power Investment Corporation (Beijing, China); [PERSON] (senior engineer) and [PERSON] (senior engineer) from China Huaneng Group (Beijing, China); [PERSON] (engineer) and [PERSON] (engineer) from Guohua Power Investment Corporation (Beijing, China)); [PERSON] (deputy head) from State Power Grid Xinjiang Corporation (Wulumuqi, China); [PERSON] (engineer) and [PERSON] (engineer) from Electric Power Planning and Engineering Institute (Beijing, China). All experts were research partners and have at least 5 years' working experience in the electric power industry. According to the results of the expert interviews, the factors influential to the core abilities of distributed PV-generation project were clustered as shown in Figure 3. For example, the cost and benefit should be put in the first place in the process of core abilities' evaluation on the distributed PV-generation project. The traditional financial indexes were integrated into investment and earning ability. The technological parameters of distributed PV-generation projects were also an important dimension for assessing their core abilities which were classified into the index of production and operation abilities.