China revises PV industry standards

China's Ministry of Industry and Information Technology (MIIT) has revised photovoltaic manufacturing industry standards, to promote the PV industry's healthier development.

Revisions include raising the minimum proportion of investment that must be funded by shareholders' own capital to 30%. Previously, the 2021 regulations for the photovoltaic manufacturing industry set a minimum ratio of 30% for new and expanded polysilicon projects, and 20% for other new and expanded photovoltaic projects.

A distributed photovoltaic power station in Shenzhen. 

The MIIT has also raised the efficiency standards for new monocrystalline silicon PV cells and modules, which were 23% and 20% in the 2021 regulations, respectively. The revised standards specify 23.7% and 21.8% for P-type cells and modules, as well as 26% and 23.1% for N-type cells and modules. P-type and N-type are the two major silicon cells and modules at present. Major types of PV cells and modules have evolved from polysilicon to monocrystalline silicon, and to the current P-type and N-type.

The revised standards also address next-generation technologies such as perovskite modules, with conversion efficiency requirements set at a minimum of 14% for existing projects and 15.5% for new projects.

The revised guidelines encourage photovoltaic companies to focus on technological innovation, product quality improvement and production cost reduction, rather than merely expanding capacity, MIIT said. (China Daily)