At present, the independent research and development capabilities of China’s photovoltaic enterprises remain relatively weak. Most of the core semiconductor materials and equipment are still imported, and this technological bottleneck has significantly hampered the growth of China's photovoltaic industry.
In the entire photovoltaic supply chain, the packaging sector stands out for its low entry barriers, leading to the rapid proliferation of over 170 packaging firms across China within a brief period. This has resulted in an annual packaging capacity exceeding 2 million kilowatts. However, due to soaring raw material prices and overcapacity, most of these companies struggle to make a profit, and the quality of their products varies widely.
By contrast, upstream manufacturers like Wuxi Suntech and Nanjing Zhongdian Photovoltaic, which focus on cutting-edge technologies, enjoy a more prosperous outlook. They primarily produce first-generation crystalline solar cells, which are renowned for their stable performance and currently dominate the market.
However, globally, the solar cell market is shifting toward the second generation. Second-generation thin-film solar cells consume far less silicon than their crystalline counterparts, a factor that many experts believe will intensify competition between the two technologies in the near future.
Dr. Kong Li, a researcher at the Institute of Electrical Engineering of the Chinese Academy of Sciences and vice-chairman of the China Renewable Energy Society, points out that China lags significantly behind international competitors in both the research and development of crystalline solar cells and the advancement of thin-film solar cells—by at least a decade.
Currently, global leaders in photovoltaic technology are predominantly foreign firms. For instance, Japan’s Kyocera has developed a polycrystalline silicon solar cell with an impressive 18.5% photoelectric conversion efficiency. Meanwhile, Sanyo employs a hybrid solar cell combining a crystalline silicon substrate with an amorphous silicon layer, achieving a remarkable 22% conversion efficiency. Additionally, a flexible amorphous silicon thin-film solar cell using a micrometer-thick stainless-steel substrate offers lighter and more flexible options compared to rigid glass-based models from other companies.
The world’s photovoltaic technology continues to advance, driving down production costs. According to the 2007 China PV Development Report, ongoing technological progress and expanding industrial scales are projected to make photovoltaic power competitive with traditional energy sources by 2030, potentially becoming a mainstream energy source.
At the 2007 World Solar Congress and Exhibition in Beijing, Tang Chuanrong, Vice President of the International Solar Energy Society and a consultant for Japan’s Kyocera Corporation, revealed that Japan aims to reduce photovoltaic electricity costs to 1.5 RMB, 0.93 RMB, and 0.47 RMB per kilowatt-hour by 2010, 2020, and 2030, respectively. The International Energy Agency predicts that by 2020, photovoltaic power will account for 2% of global electricity generation, rising to 20-28% by 2040.
Ball Valve,Universal Ball Valve,3 Way Ball Valve,Ball Float Valve
Chongqing Xingjida Import and Export Trade Co., Ltd. , https://www.xjdvalve.com