China proposed export controls on 12 technologies used to make solar equipment, including bans on some wafer, perovskite, tandem-cell and polysilicon production technologies. Public consultation closes November 15, and exporters must register certain overseas technology transfers until the control catalogue is updated.
China’s commerce ministry proposed adding 12 photovoltaic technologies to its export-control list, citing national security concerns and their growing use in sensitive areas such as aerospace and national defense. Exporters must register certain overseas technology transfers while the proposal is under review; public consultation closes November 15.
The proposal would ban technologies used to make some thin wafers, perovskite and tandem solar cells, as well as large-scale fluidized-bed polysilicon production. It would restrict, but not prohibit, exports of advanced solar-cell manufacturing technologies including TOPCon, HJT and XBC. Fluidized-bed production of polysilicon, a key solar-panel building block, is less expensive and more energy-efficient than the dominant Siemens process.
Chinese officials held initial talks with manufacturers about potential curbs on advanced solar-panel manufacturing technologies in April. China has also curbed exports of solar-manufacturing technology to India, where efforts are under way to build domestic manufacturing and reduce reliance on China.
