China is set to enforce revised national energy efficiency standards covering polysilicon, monocrystalline silicon, PV modules, and inverters from next year
Under the revised rules, existing solar manufacturing facilities will need to meet minimum energy consumption thresholds
New projects will face stricter requirements under the updated standards
The updated standards cover polysilicon, monocrystalline silicon, PV modules, and grid-connected inverters under a three-grade system
With China's updated energy efficiency standards set to take effect from January 1, 2027, the finalized rules tighten energy consumption limits for key solar manufacturing processes. This may accelerate the retirement of inefficient production capacity.
China has introduced updated national energy efficiency standards for key solar manufacturing segments, tightening energy consumption requirements for polysilicon and monocrystalline silicon production while maintaining efficiency standards for crystalline silicon PV modules and inverters.
The revised standards will take effect on January 1, 2027. The Standardization Administration of China (SAC) had launched a public consultation for the three mandatory national standards in September 2025 (see China Updates Solar PV Energy Consumption & Efficiency Standards).
The new GB29447-2026 standard replaces GB29447-2022, updating the energy consumption grades for polysilicon production using both the modified Siemens process and the silane fluidized bed (FBR) process.
Existing manufacturing facilities must meet at least the Grade 3 energy consumption threshold, while newly built, expanded, or upgraded projects must comply with the stricter Grade 2 requirements.
China has tightened energy consumption limits for monocrystalline silicon ingots and wafers under GB47835—2026. For monocrystalline silicon production, the Grade 1, 2, and 3 limits are 1.90 kgce/kg, 2.16 kgce/kg, and 2.58 kgce/kg, respectively. For wafers, the corresponding limits are 5,900 kgce, 7,005 kgce, and 9,525 kgce per million pieces.
As with polysilicon, existing facilities must meet Grade 3 requirements, while new or expanded projects must meet Grade 2.
Separately, the energy efficiency standard, GB47834-2026, for crystalline silicon PV modules and grid-connected inverters classifies products into three efficiency grades. The minimum module conversion efficiency required under Grade 3 is 23.2% for TOPCon and heterojunction (HJT) modules and 23.5% for back-contact (BC) modules. The highest efficiency required under Grade 1 is 24% for TOPCon modules, 23.8% for HJT modules, and 24.2% for BC modules.
The same standard also specifies minimum efficiency thresholds for grid-connected inverters across different power ratings, classified as weighted-average and maximum conversion efficiencies.
According to the government, rapid global growth in solar installations and China's expanding role as a major inverter manufacturer and exporter have increased the need for national energy efficiency standards.
The government explains, “China has not yet established a national standard system for the energy efficiency of photovoltaic products. The formulation of this standard fills a gap in my country's energy efficiency standards for photovoltaic modules and inverters.”
The efficiency standards, explains the government, will help establish a unified efficiency framework for PV modules and inverters, and align with relevant international standards. It will also support the competitiveness of Chinese products in global markets.
Nevertheless, the stricter efficiency standards could raise the minimum efficiency threshold for manufacturers, prompting upgrades or the retirement of less-efficient capacity. Industry observers say this may encourage competition based more on product performance than price, potentially increasing demand for higher-efficiency modules.
Before the standards were issued, InfoLink Consulting had stated, “High-efficiency modules are expected to command price premiums and rapidly expand their market share, while low-efficiency ones will face mounting price pressure and accelerated capacity contraction. Ultimately, the PV industry will move beyond unrestrained capacity expansion and enter a new stage of high-quality development centered on efficiency and value creation.”
