A staff member works on the production line for solar photovoltaic modules in Zhuolu county in Zhangjiakou, North China's Hebei Province on February 14, 2023. The photovoltaic modules made by the country have been exported to more than 20 countries and regions, injecting "dynamic energy" into global green low-carbon development. Photo: VCG

China's photovoltaic (PV) industry continues to witness new achievements in output value and exports last year, despite global uncertainties including US-led trade barriers targeting Chinese solar products, Wang Bohua, chairman of the China Photovoltaic Industry Association, said on Thursday.

In 2022, China's total exports of PV products including silicon wafers, cells and modules reached $51.25 billion in output value, up 80.3 percent year-on-year, Wang said. Among them, the export volume of PV modules totaled 153.6 gigawatts, an increase of 55.8 percent year-on-year, setting new records.

Last year, the country's PV products export to foreign markets saw rapid growth. Europe remains China's most important export market in 2022, accounting for 46 percent of total exports. In terms of module exports, the Netherlands maintains its position as the country's top export market, followed by Poland and Portugal in Europe.

Export growth in European countries was mainly linked to the EU's bid to ensure energy security and achieve clean energy transition, experts noted. In May 2022, the EU unveiled a 210 billion-euro ($220.4 billion) energy plan, in which it aims to double PV capacity by 2025 and install 600 gigawatts by 2030.

According to Wang, in 2022, all four major manufacturers of China's PV sector grew 55 percent or more in business revenues, Wang said. Among them, polysilicon production reached 827,000 tons, an increase of 63.4 percent; wafer output rose 57.5 percent to 357 gigawatts, and PV module production totaled 288.7 gigawatts, up 58.8 percent compared with the previous year.

However, the development of the country's PV industry still faces some uncertainty, Wang added. 

In 2022, trade barriers imposed by some countries including the US, EU and India will create difficulties for China's photovoltaic firms to expand overseas market. For instance, US customs seized three gigawatts of PV modules exported from China on the grounds of so-called "forced labor", causing large losses to Chinese companies, Wang noted.

In addition, overseas manufacturing development is likely to cause impact on China's PV industry, Wang added. The new production capacity planned by some countries in 2022 which covers polysilicon, silicon wafers, cells and modules is expected to exceed 50 gigawatts, the chairman said.

Looking toward to the future development of global PV industry, Wang predicted that by 2025, renewable energy generation will surpass coal, with 1,500 gigawatts of new PV installed globally between 2022 and 2027.

Global Times