In a pivotal stride towards advancing global clean energy, China’s photovoltaic industry stands at the forefront of technological innovation, with its high-purity polysilicon production becoming a cornerstone in the solar photovoltaic supply chain.
Location: Sichuan Province’s Leshan City
CGTN reporter, Gong Ming, recently visited a high-purity polysilicon base in Sichuan province’s Leshan city, uncovering the critical role that Chinese photovoltaic companies play in the industry’s development.
Technological breakthroughs in polysilicon production
Polysilicon, a high-purity form of silicon, is a crucial component in the solar photovoltaic supply chain. Leshan City, in Sichuan province, serves as a global hub for polysilicon production, hosting half of the top 10 leading companies in the industry.
One particular company specializes in refining polysilicon into single crystal boules, later sliced into thin silicon wafers. Over the past decade, the company has been a pioneer in continuous technological innovation for high-purity crystalline silicon production, significantly advancing the solar industry.
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Impact on solar panel efficiency and cost reduction
Director of Strategic Development at Yongxiang Co., Ltd., Ding Xiaoke, highlighted the impact of improved materials on solar panel efficiency. He noted, “As we’ve improved the quality of the materials we produce, the conversion efficiency of solar panels has jumped from 15% to a max of 23%. Every single percentage boost in efficiency translates to a more than 5% drop in the cost of solar power generation.”
This increase in efficiency is contributing to a significant drop in energy consumption, reduced costs, and a remarkable spike in overall efficiency within the solar photovoltaic industry.
Environmental impact and production capacity
As of this year, the company visited by our reporter has surpassed a high-purity silicon production capacity of 420,000 tons, capable of creating a 168GW power system. This achievement leads to a cumulative reduction of 4.7 billion tons of carbon emissions over 30 years.
Deputy General Manager Zhang Peng from Leshan Jingyuntong New Material Technology Co., Ltd., emphasized the company’s contribution, stating, “With continuous upgrades through tech reforms, our annual output translates to about 6.1 billion kilowatt-hours per year, slashing 60 million tons of carbon dioxide emissions—equivalent to planting 3.3 billion trees annually.”
Global leadership in solar photovoltaic industry
China’s consistent focus on technological innovation and a well-established industry chain has enabled it to maintain global leadership in the solar photovoltaic industry. Holding a share exceeding 80% in all manufacturing phases of global solar panels, China achieved a total output value of 1.4 trillion yuan, approximately 195 billion US dollars in 2022. Polysilicon production reached 857,000 tons, maintaining the world’s top position for 12 consecutive years.
Gong Ming concludes, “In the past 20 years, the Chinese photovoltaic industry has made significant breakthroughs, establishing itself as a world leader and innovator. This has not only played a key role in China’s sustainable economic development but has also made a positive contribution to the global clean energy transition and environmental protection.”
