- Three mandatory standards now cover China’s entire solar manufacturing chain
- The rules will go into effect on January 1, 2027 on polysilicon, wafers and modules.
- Older polysilicon facilities face pressure to upgrade heat recovery systems
China is preparing a major reboot of its solar industry by introducing mandatory energy standards that could eliminate inefficient production capacity.
The new standards cover the entire PV supply chain, including polysilicon, silicon wafers, modules and inverters across domestic manufacturing.
The measures, which will take effect on January 1, 2027, aim to reduce excess capacity and shift competition away from low prices.
New rules target solar production with high energy consumption
The three standards, known as GB 29447-2026, GB 47835-2026 and GB 47834-2026, set binding requirements for solar manufacturing efficiency.
Unlike previous voluntary guidelines, these rules create mandatory limits that can influence decisions on production, procurement, imports and renewable energy projects.
GB 29447-2026 focuses on the production of polysilicon and germanium by tightening energy consumption limits for major manufacturing processes.
The requirements are expected to put pressure on older, more energy-intensive polysilicon facilities while encouraging improvements in efficiency systems.
Manufacturers may need to adopt improved heat recovery, hydrogen recycling, and process optimization methods to meet updated energy requirements.
The wafer sector will also face stricter rules through GB 47835-2026, which covers monocrystalline silicon production standards.
Older crystal mining equipment and inefficient wafer lines could face increasing pressure as the industry moves toward better manufacturing methods.
Technologies such as continuous crystal extraction, better thermal management and thinner wafers are expected to become more important.
GB 47834-2026 introduces energy efficiency requirements for crystalline silicon modules and grid-connected inverters, which affect finished solar products.
The module standard reportedly introduces three grades of efficiency, with Grade 1 being the highest level according to the classification system.
Minimum Grade 3 efficiency levels are reported to be around 23.2% for TOPCon and HJT modules, along with 23.5% for BC designs.
The standard also introduces environmental stress testing and bifacial performance requirements for different module technologies.
Solar Price War Faces Pressure for Tighter Regulations
China’s solar industry has faced nearly two years of severe oversupply, forcing manufacturers into aggressive price competition, and the new rules are expected to accelerate the retirement of older production lines and increase pressure on less efficient manufacturers.
Legacy PERC module facilities, early TOPCon production capacity, and high-energy polysilicon plants could see the greatest impact.
Companies operating newer production systems with lower energy consumption may find it easier to meet future requirements, and the changes could also affect how solar projects select equipment as government-backed tenders adopt stricter compliance measures.
State-owned utilities and public renewable energy projects may increasingly favor products that meet higher standards of energy efficiency and performance.
For solar manufacturers, the change can increase costs in the short term through equipment upgrades, factory changes and capacity reductions; However, the new framework could move the industry away from endless price cuts toward efficiency-focused competition.
The rules mark a major change for a market that has expanded rapidly through low-cost manufacturing and high-volume production.
By limiting inefficient capacity, China appears to be moving toward a solar sector built around energy savings and higher quality production.
Via pv magazine
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