China has tightened investment rules for PV system production and increased the minimum capital ratio for starting projects from 20% to 30%, according to new standardized guidelines announced by the government.
China’s Ministry of Industry and Information Technology has issued stricter regulations for investments in the domestic PV supply chain.
“While the industry is experiencing rapid growth, it is also facing challenges such as intensified disorderly competition, market fluctuations and adjustments, and accelerated technological progress,” the ministry said in a statement.
The new standardized investment guidelines increase the minimum capital ratio for starting a PV production project from 20% to 30%, a figure previously only applied to polysilicon production.
The Chinese government has also set new efficiency standards. P-type monocrystalline cells and modules should exceed 23.7% and 21.8% efficiency, respectively, while n-type cells and panels should exceed 26% and 23.1%, respectively.
The updated energy consumption standards for new construction or upgraded projects require less than 40 kWh/kg for reducing electricity consumption, compared to the 44 kWh/kg in the draft, and less than 53 kWh/kg for total electricity consumption, a reduction of 57 kWh/kg .
The new water use standards require waffle production to use less than 540 tons per million pieces, with a recovered water utilization rate of at least 40%. For solar cells, the water consumption threshold is set at less than 360 tons per MWp, with a reclaimed water utilization rate of more than 40%.
There is also an emphasis on intellectual property, requiring companies to hold core patents for their main activities and industrialized products, with no patent infringements in the past three years.
Finally, the updated guidelines encourage active participation from companies in formulating green and low-carbon standards, including green product certification, green factory evaluations and green supply chain assessments. Companies are urged to prioritize renewable energy in their production processes, using green energy certificates or industrial green microgrids to meet these standards.
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