Since the start of 2026, nearly RMB 13 billion in disclosed investment is going into upgrading more than 100 GW of existing manufacturing capacity. But manufacturers are taking different paths: LONGi Solar, AIKO Energy and TCL Zhonghuan: moving heavily into BC Trinasolar, Canadian Solar Inc., Jolywood Solar and GCL System Integration: keeping TOPCon while building a pathway into BC Tongwei Solar and JA Solar: pushing more performance from existing TOPCon capacity With new e

China's battery cell manufacturers are growing again. But who's actually turning growth into profit? In H1 2026, 15 major Chinese battery cell manufacturers reported combined revenue of RMB 508.1 billion, supported by recovering battery demand and improving prices. But the financial recovery is far from evenly distributed. Here's what stands out: CATL continues to dominate, accounting for 54.5% of combined revenue, 80.8% of net profit and 92.4% of net operating cash flow. Sma

China’s polysilicon producers are pushing for RMB 43,000/tonne. But the futures market isn't convinced. On 11 October, eight leading polysilicon producers met in Hangzhou to reinforce efforts to stabilise prices, reduce production and address excess capacity. Yet just two days later, the PS2611 futures contract fell to RMB 34,020/tonne — its lowest level since April. What's keeping the market cautious? High inventories: 572,000 tonnes at the end of September, equivalent to ne

China continued to strengthen its policy support for battery energy storage in June 2026, with 73 storage-related policies released during the month, including four national policies and 69 provincial and local policies. The latest policy direction reinforces energy storage as a core pillar of China’s 15th Five-Year Energy Plan (2026–2030). Key national targets include 300 GW of new energy storage by 2030, alongside 50 GW of virtual power plant flexibility and 160 GW of pumpe

China’s BESS market saw further price pressure in July 2026, particularly for 2-hour energy storage systems. Average 2H BESS system prices fell 15% from June to July, reaching RMB 0.579/Wh, as intense competition continued to push bidding prices lower. By comparison, average 4H system prices stood at RMB 0.542/Wh. EPC pricing remained considerably higher than system-only pricing, reflecting additional construction and equipment costs. Average EPC prices reached RMB 1.057/Wh f

Solid-state batteries are attracting growing attention as the industry looks beyond conventional lithium-ion technology. Unlike conventional LFP and NMC batteries, which use a liquid electrolyte, solid-state batteries use a non-flammable solid electrolyte. This offers the potential for improved safety and higher energy density, but significant challenges remain, particularly around manufacturing costs and scaling production. Conventional liquid batteries, meanwhile, continue