China’s solar module exports surge on strong European demand

By Carrie Xiao
Facebook
Twitter
LinkedIn
Reddit
Email
An operational solar plant in the Netherlands. The country accounted for 27% of Chinese module exports between January and September 2022. Image: Suntech.

Solar module export volumes from China between January and October 2022 were up 86% year-on-year amid strong demand in Europe.

That’s according to a new report from the China Photovoltaic Industry Association, which revealed that China’s PV manufacturing output of silicon materials, silicon wafers, cells and modules during the nine months increased by more than 42%.

This article requires Premium SubscriptionBasic (FREE) Subscription

Try Premium for just $1

  • Full premium access for the first month at only $1
  • Converts to an annual rate after 30 days unless cancelled
  • Cancel anytime during the trial period

Premium Benefits

  • Expert industry analysis and interviews
  • Digital access to PV Tech Power journal
  • Exclusive event discounts

Or get the full Premium subscription right away

Or continue reading this article for free

Silicon material output was 550,000 tons (a 52.8% increase year-on-year), silicon wafer output was 236GW (+43%), cell output was 209GW (+42.2%) and module output was 191GW (+46.9%).

In terms of destinations for Chinese modules, the Netherlands ranked first with 26.8%, followed by Brazil (11.5%) and India (7.3%). Export proportions to Spain, Germany and Poland also increased significantly.

However, when looking at monthly changes in export figures, Q4 shows a slowing trend.

In this context, the US, the European Union, India and others are actively promoting local manufacturing, with companies in these markets intending to overtake China by developing new technologies.

The US Department of Energy recently announced a US$20 million Cadmium Telluride Accelerator Consortium aimed at expanding domestic production of cadmium telluride PV materials and modules to reduce the cost of cells.

In Europe, the European Technology and Innovation Platform for Photovoltaics was relaunched earlier this year. Due to run until 2025, the initiative will advise European policymakers and promote the development of PV technology.

Japanese companies regard perovskite products as a strong candidate for the new generation of solar cells as they strive to regain momentum in the PV product market.

25 November 2025
Warsaw, Poland
Large Scale Solar Central and Eastern Europe continues to be the place to leverage a network that has been made over more than 10 years, to build critical partnerships to develop solar projects throughout the region.
10 March 2026
Frankfurt, Germany
The conference will gather the key stakeholders from PV manufacturing, equipment/materials, policy-making and strategy, capital equipment investment and all interested downstream channels and third-party entities. The goal is simple: to map out PV manufacturing out to 2030 and beyond.

Read Next

September 15, 2025
Norwegian energy firm Statkraft has agreed to divest a portion of its renewable energy portfolio to Serentica Renewables.
September 15, 2025
Vikram Solar has secured a contract to supply 200MW of modules to AB Energia, a domestic solar engineering, procurement, and construction (EPC) solutions provider. 
September 12, 2025
German trade association BSW-Solar has called the German government for a simplified, standardised and more digitalised grid access for solar PV and energy storage operators.
September 12, 2025
ACME Venus Urja has secured INR3.8 billion (US$43 million) to develop and construct a solar-plus-storage project in Barmer, Rajasthan.
September 11, 2025
Solar power generation in Central Europe has grown at more than twice the EU average rate since 2019, according to new figures.
September 10, 2025
A project claimed to be Germany’s largest agriPV plant has been commissioned in the north-east of the country.

Subscribe to Newsletter

Upcoming Events

Solar Media Events
September 16, 2025
Athens, Greece
Solar Media Events
September 30, 2025
Seattle, USA
Solar Media Events
October 1, 2025
London, UK
Solar Media Events
October 2, 2025
London,UK
Solar Media Events
October 7, 2025
Manila, Philippines