China has proposed higher efficiency requirements for TOPCon, HJT, and BC solar cells and modules
New manufacturing projects would face stricter limits on energy and water consumption, with greater emphasis on recycling and product quality
The draft rules are open to stakeholder consultation until November 15, 2026
China’s Ministry of Industry and Information Technology (MIIT) has proposed tougher standards for solar PV manufacturers, including higher efficiency requirements for solar cells and modules, as part of its efforts to curb overcapacity in the industry.
Under the proposal, new and expanded solar cell production lines would need to achieve average conversion efficiencies of at least 26.2% for TOPCon, 26% for heterojunction (HJT), and 26.6% for back-contact (BC) technologies.
For solar modules, the proposed minimum average efficiencies are 24.2% for TOPCon, 24% for HJT, and 24.4% for BC modules.
The draft also sets minimum efficiency requirements for existing production facilities. Solar cells would need to achieve average efficiencies of at least 25.3% for TOPCon and HJT and 25.6% for BC technology. For existing modules, the proposed thresholds are 23.4%, 23.4%, and 23.7%, respectively.
However, according to TaiyangNews TOP SOLAR MODULES Listing, commercial module efficiency of BC has already reached 25%, led by AIKO and LONGi (see TOP SOLAR MODULES Listing – October 2026).
The draft also introduces efficiency thresholds for emerging technologies. New tandem solar modules would need to achieve an average efficiency of at least 27%, compared with 25% for existing products. New perovskite modules will be required to meet the minimum efficiency of 20%.
The proposed standards also target the energy and water consumption of solar manufacturing, particularly in the polysilicon production stage. The draft includes requirements covering waste management, recycling, environmental protection, and worker safety. It also encourages manufacturers to improve automation and digital manufacturing processes to increase production efficiency and reduce costs.
The draft retains a minimum equity-capital ratio of 30% for new and expanded manufacturing projects. It also requires manufacturers to invest at least 3% of their annual sales revenue in research and development and process improvements.
The changes come as China's solar manufacturing industry continues to face excess production capacity and financial pressure. The government has been seeking to encourage a shift away from capacity expansion driven mainly by price competition toward technological development, improved product quality, and more efficient production.
The proposed specifications also revise the system used to identify manufacturers that meet industry requirements. Authorities would conduct regular reviews and could remove companies from the list if they no longer comply with the standards.
The proposed rules are open for public consultation until November 15, 2026. Details are available on MIIT’s website.
MIIT previously clarified how manufacturers are expected to meet the five mandatory national standards covering the solar PV industry, ahead of their 2027 rollout (see China Clarifies New Mandatory Solar PV Standards).
The proposal is separate from China's planned controls on exports of certain solar manufacturing technologies (see China Proposes Export Curbs On 12 Solar PV Technologies).
