By Liao Ruiling
China’s photovoltaic(PV)industry maintains robust growth momentum during the first six months of this year. Data showed that during this period,the country’s output of polysilicon, silicon wafers, solar cells, and modules all rose by over 30 percent year-on-year, and exports of PV modules have increased by nearly 20 percent from the same period last year.
This growth is evident at a granular silicon production facility of Chinese major polysiliconsupplierGCL Technology Holdings Limited in Xuzhou, east China’s Jiangsu province, where a huge number of small granular silicon particles are flowing into storage tanks, ready for quality checks and packaging.
“Granular silicon, a type of polycrystalline silicon and an essential material component in the PV manufacturing industry, has advantages such as smaller volume and simpler production processes,” said Lan Tianshi, co-chief executive officer of the company.
He said that the company’s four facilities for producing granular silicon in China are all running smoothly, with a steady increase in their market share.
The demand for PV systems continues to rise globally as the world increasingly shifts toward renewable energy, said Liu Yiyang, deputy secretary-general and spokesperson of the China Photovoltaic Industry Association.
In the first half of this year, the newly installed capacity of China’s PV industry reached 102.48GW, including 49.6 GW of centralized PV installations, 37.03 GW of commercial and industrial solar installations, and 15.85 GW of residential solar installations.
“China has made significant achievements in multiple segments of the PV industry, including solar cells, modules, and silicon wafers,” said Liu.
“Thanks to Chinese PV companies’continuous technological innovation, enhanced independent R&D, and improved production efficiency, China leads the world in PV output and capacity, and multiple segments of the industrial chain,” he added.
Looking back, China’s PV industry went through a tough timewhen it relied heavily on foreign sources for raw materials, equipment, and markets.
From the early 2000s to late 2010, there was a remarkable increase in China’s solar cell production. Yet the industry, which was primarily export-oriented at the time, faced serious challenges due to
the global financial crisis.
In the 2010s, the global PV industry encountered additional difficulties caused bythe so-called anti-dumping and anti-subsidy measures enforced by some countries. In response to these challenges, the Chinese PV industry shifted its focus toward expanding the Chinese domestic market and developing core technologies.
Throughout the years, driven by China’s dual carbon goals of peaking carbon emissions by 2030 and achieving carbon neutrality by 2060, Chinese PV companieshave intensified their R&Defforts. They have successfully developed and applied emerging technologies like perovskite PV cell technology, while also promoting the large-scale commercialization of multiple high-efficiency cell technologies, Liu said.
Liu noted that in 2023, all of the world’s top 10 companies in PV cells production were from China, with a combined capacity of 681.2 GW, accounting for 66 percent of the global total.
According to the white paper “China’s Energy Transition” recently released by China’s State Council Information Office, China has built complete industrial chains for the R&D, design, and integrated manufacturing of wind and solar PV equipment, and the high conversion efficiency of crystalline silicon/perovskite PV cell technology has established multiple world bests.
Over the past decade, China has provided premium clean energy products and services to the international market. The country has also doubled its efforts in technological innovation to upgrade new energy technology at a faster pace, contributing enormously to a sharp reduction in the costs of wind power and PV power worldwide.
Data from the International Energy Agency show that in 2023, China’s newly installed renewable energy capacity exceeded the total of other regions worldwide, making it the largest contributor to the development of the global renewable energy industry.
To address the challenges the industry faces such as intense competition, export obstacles in some regions, and a slight supply-demand imbalance, some leading Chinese companies are increasing investment in technological upgrades to reduce costs, maintain profits, and improve efficiency, while some others are seeking new growth opportunities and expanding their global presence.
Since the beginning of this year, companies like GCL Technology Holdings Limited, Trina Solar, and JinkoSolar have announced to launch PV projects in Middle East. Some firms are accelerating their global expansion by assisting their overseas counterparts in localizing industrial chains.
“No matter how the market changes, innovation remains our top priority as technological strength and independent innovation capabilities are always crucial for maintaining our resilience and competitiveness,” said Lan.
Industrial robots move PV modules in a workshop of a new energy company based in Yangzhou, east China’s Jiangsu province. (Photo by Meng Delong/People’s Daily Online)
A woman works in a workshop of new energy company Ronma Solar in Jinhua, east China’s Zhejiang province. (Photo by Shi Bufa/People’s Daily Online)
Photo shows a solar farm in Tushi township, Lanshan county, Yongzhou, central China’s Hunan province. (Photo by Huang Chuntao/People’s Daily Online)
技术引领，中国光伏保持增长势头
廖睿灵
在位于江苏徐州的协鑫科技徐州颗粒硅生产基地，一座座硅烷反应塔林立。生产车间内，流化床装置发出低鸣，一颗颗绿豆般大小的颗粒硅不断流入存储罐，等待检测打包入库。
“颗粒硅是一种颗粒状的多晶硅，具有体积小、制备工艺简单等优势。目前我们国内的4个颗粒硅生产基地都在有序生产，产品市场占有率也在稳步提升。”协鑫科技控股有限公司联席首席执行官兰天石告诉记者。
今年上半年，中国光伏制造端继续保持增长势头。据光伏行业规范公告企业信息和行业协会测算，全国光伏多晶硅、硅片、电池、组件产量同比增长均超过30%，光伏组件出口量同比增长近20%。
中国光伏行业协会副秘书长兼新闻发言人刘译阳表示，随着全球对可再生能源的需求持续增加，光伏发电系统的市场需求也在不断扩大。数据显示，今年上半年，全国光伏新增装机102.48GW。其中，集中式光伏新增装机49.6GW，工商业新增装机37.03GW，户用光伏新增装机15.85GW。
“目前，中国在光伏电池、组件、硅片等多个环节都取得了显著成就。中国光伏企业通过持续技术创新、加强自主研发、不断提高生产效率等措施，推动中国光伏产量和产能居于世界前列，光伏产业链多环节达到国际领先水平。”刘译阳说。
然而，把时间线拉长来看，中国光伏行业曾一度陷于原材料、设备、市场“三头在外”的形势。
本世纪初到2010年底，中国光伏行业曾经历电池产量快速增长的局面。然而，全球金融危机给当时主打产品出口的光伏行业造成不小影响。进入本世纪第二个十年，一些国家所谓“反倾销、反补贴”举措，让行业再度受挫。痛定思痛，打开国内市场、掌握核心技术，成为行业“翻身”的重要方向。
“多年来，中国的光伏企业在电池技术上不断创新，推动了多种高效电池技术研发和应用，并成功推动其大规模产业化。”刘译阳告诉记者，在“双碳”目标推动下，伴随中国光伏企业持续加大技术研发力度，钙钛矿太阳能电池等新型电池技术崭露头角，一系列高效电池技术也逐步走向商业化应用。“2023年，电池片环节全球排名前十的企业均为中国企业，总产能达到681.2吉瓦，占据了全球总产能的66%。”刘译阳说。
《中国的能源转型》白皮书指出，中国建成完备的风电、光伏全产业链研发设计和集成制造体系，高效晶体硅、钙钛矿等光伏电池技术转换效率多次刷新世界纪录。十年来，中国向全球提供优质的清洁能源产品和服务，持续加大科技创新力度，不断推动新能源技术快速迭代，有力促进全球风电、光伏成本大幅下降。
此外，根据国际能源署数据，2023年中国可再生能源新增的装机规模超过了世界其他地区的总和，是推动全球可再生能源产业发展最大的贡献者。
目前，行业发展面临竞争激烈、部分地区出口受阻、市场供需略有失衡等问题，该如何破局？一些头部企业选择加大技改投入，力争降成本、保利润、提效率；一些企业转向寻求新的需求增长点，拓展全球化布局。今年以来，协鑫科技、天合光能、晶科能源等企业纷纷宣布在中东地区开展光伏相关项目，部分企业通过协助海外客户实现光伏产业链本地化发展等手段，加快“走出去”。 “无论面临怎样的市场形势，创新都是企业努力的重点。我们相信，科技实力和自主创新能力始终是保持企业韧性和竞争力的关键要素
江苏省扬州市一家新能源生产企业，工业机器人在生产线上搬运光伏设备组件。孟德龙/人民图片
浙江省金华市，浙江润马光能集团有限公司3GW光伏组件数字化智能检测线上，工人在忙生产、赶订单。 时补法/人民图片
鸟瞰湖南省永州市蓝山县土市镇南岭光伏电站。黄春涛/人民图片
