China - August 09, 2024

Northwest China's Qinghai builds itself into photovoltaic powerhouse

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Like photovoltaic powerhouse Jiangsu Province on China's eastern coast, Qinghai Province in northwestern China is building out its own PV industry with a complete supply chain and strong research capacity.

In Xining, the province capital, a five-kilometer-long street is lined with factories that make polysilicon, solar panels, and lithium batteries.

One polysilicon company said they decided to set up factories in the area because many downstream companies are just around the corner.

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Zhang Li, CEO, polysilicon company:

"We locate our management center for production and operation here, where there is a complete industrial chain that enables us to connect with the downstream market efficiently and conveniently."

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To further stimulate the city's PV industry, a special mechanism was launched wherein government officials also act as "PV industrial chain leaders", coordinating different departments for services like financing, and scientific research. Already established companies in the PV industry also played a role.

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Wang Zhongyi, deputy director, Xining Economic and Technological Development Zone:

"The leading companies will bring in some of their resources, clients, and some related supporting enterprises."

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One additional bit of support to the industry: a public research and development platform that was set up last year to help enterprises solve technical bottlenecks.

In 2023, Qinghai's exports of solar cells and lithium batteries increased by 200 percent and 360 percent respectively compared to the year before.

[Restriction: No access Chinese mainland]