CIPESIC 2024

On November 18, 2024, the 7th China International Photovoltaic and Energy Storage Industry Conference was grandly held at the Chengdu Century City New International Convention & Exhibition Center. As the first international photovoltaic event in western China, this year's conference focused on the theme of "A New Era of PV and Energy Storage: A New Journey for Dual Carbon Goals." Leading figures, top experts, and leading enterprises from both domestic and international photovoltaic and energy storage sectors gathered in Chengdu to engage in in-depth exchanges and discussions on the latest trends, technological innovations, market strategies, and other hot topics within the industry, collectively envisioning the future of the photovoltaic and energy storage sector .

Chen Changzhi, former chairman of the Central Committee of the China Association Promoting Democracy and deputy director of the 11th and 12th sessions of the Standing Committee of the National People's Congress, stated in his speech that over the past four years since the proposal of the dual carbon goals, China has actively explored paths toward energy transition and green sustainable development, proposing a new strategy for energy security which has achieved significant results in driving the energy transition. He emphasized that the conference’s focus on the "New Era of PV and Energy Storage: A New Journey for Dual Carbon Goals" is timely, calling upon the industry to take on its era-defining mission by continuously strengthening its capabilities for green development, adhering to technological innovation, and actively integrating into globalization to unleash new synergies. He encouraged leveraging Chinese technology, manufacturing, and solutions to provide green momentum for global sustainable development .

Li Wenqing, Vice Governor of Sichuan Province, mentioned in his speech that Sichuan will further promote industrial cluster building and strong chain development, scientifically replicate industrial achievements, and develop policy toolkits for the growth of the photovoltaic and energy storage industries. Measures will be taken from cost reduction, industrial support, capital matching, and other aspects to genuinely enhance full lifecycle services and continuously improve the total number and safety level of the industrial chain. Additionally, efforts will be made to strengthen open cooperation, coordinate government governance product openness and application product development, build more platforms for exchange and dialogue, deepen upstream and downstream industrial cooperation domestically and internationally, help companies find resources, access markets, and secure orders. He urged everyone to maintain confidence and seize opportunities during Sichuan’s new round of opening up and development, sharing developmental opportunities and creating a better future together .

Wang Fengchao, Deputy Secretary of the Chengdu Municipal Committee and Mayor of Chengdu, discussed how the new round of energy revolution is profoundly reshaping the global industrial landscape, with photovoltaic and energy storage becoming focal points. He highlighted the contributions of Tongwei Group, which has been rooted in Chengdu, achieving seven consecutive years as the world’s largest supplier of solar cell modules and becoming the first Fortune Global 500 company in the global photovoltaic industry, making significant contributions to Chengdu’s development. With major opportunities such as the Belt and Road Initiative, the development of the Yangtze River Economic Belt, the large-scale development of the west, and the construction of the Chengdu-Chongqing dual-city economic circle converging in Chengdu, Wang promised that Chengdu would continue to offer the utmost sincerity, optimal policies, and the best environment, providing comprehensive element guarantees and all-chain services, forming a community of shared destiny with enterprises in the photovoltaic and energy storage industries .

Liu Shuqi, Chairman and CEO of Tongwei Co., Ltd., pointed out that the photovoltaic industry has entered a new phase filled with challenges and opportunities. As a part of China’s photovoltaic industry, Tongwei will continue to leverage its strengths in technological innovation, market expansion, and industrial chain optimization. Gao Jifan, Chairman of Trina Solar, also suggested vigorously developing new types of energy storage and microgrids to aid in constructing new power systems, opening up vast applications for high-quality development. He recommended increasing policy guidance and support, encouraging the integration of photovoltaics with various production and living scenarios, continuing to support the construction of commercial and residential photovoltaic rooftops, and promoting the construction of source-grid-load-storage systems combining green electricity with data centers, green hydrogen, and other new loads to further unleash the potential of photovoltaic and other renewable energies .

The conference also unveiled the "2024 Top 100 Photovoltaic and Energy Storage Brands in China," with outstanding brands such as CATL, BYD, Tongwei, Longi, Sungrow Power Supply, Huawei Digital Power, GCL, Trina Solar, JinkoSolar, and TBEA making the list. On-site, Tongwei’s Global Innovation Research and Development Center was officially inaugurated, focusing on mainstream future technologies in solar cells and modules, aiming to become an innovation hub for photovoltaic technology in western China, radiating across the country and globally, thereby injecting robust technical impetus into the advancement of cutting-edge technologies, nurturing new productivity in photovoltaics, and assisting industry innovation .

In recent years, Sichuan has included the photovoltaic and energy storage industries in its six advantage industries’ quality improvement and multiplication actions and key industrial chains, establishing a complete industrial chain with industry scale and innovation levels ranking among the top in the nation. In Chengdu, the industry is rapidly rising, attracting numerous leading enterprises, including Tongwei and Jinko Solar, forming a capacity advantage in multiple links such as polycrystalline silicon and solar cell modules, with output volumes ranking among the highest nationwide and establishing a highly influential photovoltaic industry cluster .

During the conference, local governments and enterprises in the photovoltaic and energy storage sectors seized business opportunities, signing over 60 cooperation projects involving efficient batteries and modules, distributed photovoltaic projects, smart energy, energy storage, equipment manufacturing, and other segments of the photovoltaic and energy storage industry chain, with cumulative signed amounts exceeding RMB 30 billion .