Integrated solar manufacturer Trinasolar has announced that 2 solar technology research projects led by the company have been officially selected for China’s 14th Five-Year Plan National Key R&D Program in Renewable Energy Technologies.
One project, titled Highly Reliable Crystalline Silicon Modules and Complete Cell Manufacturing Technologies, focuses on overcoming technical challenges to approach the theoretical conversion efficiency limit of crystalline silicon cells. It aims to develop key technologies for high short-circuit current density and high open-circuit voltage crystalline silicon solar cells and reliable modules, with industrial demonstration targets.
The second project, titled Low-Cost Manufacturing of III-V Thin-Film and III-V/Crystalline Silicon Tandem Solar Cells, targets the development and demonstration of cost-effective production technologies for III-V thin-film and tandem cells. The goal is to break new records in III-V cell efficiency and drive full-scale industrialization across the entire value chain, including III-V cells, modules, equipment, and applications.
Recently, Trinasolar’s Vertex S+ Full Black series module was awarded the 2025 Red Dot Design Award (see China Solar PV News Snippets).
China’s Ministry of Industry and Information Technology (MIIT) has released the preliminary list of enterprises selected for the first batch of national key pilot-scale manufacturing platforms, which includes 242 organizations. Integrated PV manufacturer Tongwei and perovskite cell developer UtmoLight have made the list from the solar sector. The national key pilot-scale manufacturing platforms serve as transitional testing stages for new products before full-scale production, helping ensure a smooth progression from lab research to industrial application.
Recently, UtmoLight’s mass-produced large-area perovskite modules achieved a stabilized efficiency of 17.04% (see China Solar PV News Snippets).
Chint Group company Astronergy has announced that its ASTRO N7s module has passed TÜV NORD's ultra-high mechanical load test of +10,000/-4,000 Pa. This test simulates long-term mechanical stress under extreme conditions such as hurricanes and heavy snowfall.
Test data confirmed that the module can withstand up to 1,000 kg/m2 of front-side pressure and 400 kg/m2 of rear-side pull force. The company said the results validate the structural design, encapsulation process, and material durability of the ASTRO N7s, ensuring reduced deformation risk in harsh climates and safeguarding long-term energy yield for utility-scale solar projects.
According to the China Chamber of Commerce for Import and Export of Machinery and Electronic Products (CCCME), the total export value of Chinese PV products in Q1 2025 saw a sharp decline of 30.5% year-over-year (YoY) to reach $6.71 billion. Wafer exports totaled $290 million, down 52.1% YoY, with export volumes decreasing 11.4% to 1.32 billion pieces. Solar cell exports were up 13.5% YoY to $830 million, with volumes up 51.1% to about 20.1 GW. Module exports were down 33% YoY to $5.59 billion, with export volumes down 7.4% to 57.9 GW.
Module exports to the European Union (EU) were down 38.8% to $1.8 billion, with shipments down 15.6% YoY to 18.6 GW. The EU accounted for 32.2% of China’s total module export value in Q1, a decrease of 3 percentage points compared to the same period in 2024.
Integrated solar manufacturer HY Solar has announced its plan to sell its 27.0737% equity stake in Inner Mongolia Xinyuan Silicon Materials Technology Co., Ltd. (Xinyuan Silicon) to Jiangsu Zhongneng Silicon Industry Technology Development Co., Ltd. for a total consideration of RMB 1.245 billion ($173 million).
Xinyuan Silicon was jointly established in 2021 by HY Solar and Jiangsu Zhongneng, the latter being a subsidiary of the well-known polysilicon producer GCL Technology. The Xinyuan Silicon granular silicon production facility began phased commissioning in November 2022 and is currently operating normally. In 2024, the company reported operating revenues of RMB 4.792 billion ($666 million), with a net loss of RMB 477 million ($66.25 million).
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