The transformation that China is driving in its photovoltaic industry promises to have consequences far beyond its borders. For Tongwei , one of the world's largest solar manufacturers, the new regulations aim to correct the imbalances left by the rapid expansion of capacity and fierce price competition.
“The changes in China show a very strong signal that the government wants to remove some of the less developed photovoltaic capabilities and also wants the markets to return to a more logical situation,” said Ming Zeng , Sales Director of South America at Tongwei, in an interview with Energía Estratégica during The smarter E South America .
In recent months, Beijing has deepened this approach with concrete measures regarding prices, efficiency, and production capacity. On June 27 , China published new mandatory energy consumption standards for the production of polysilicon and monocrystalline silicon, along with efficiency requirements for photovoltaic modules and inverters.
The provisions will come into effect in 2027 and aim to raise the requirements for new capacities and accelerate the exit of those that consume more energy and are less efficient.
Pressure on price competition also increased. On July 31 , the State Administration for Market Regulation met with representatives from 27 photovoltaic companies and urged them to avoid selling below cost.
Just a week later, eight major polysilicon producers, including Tongwei , signed a sector initiative in which they pledged not to trade products below their full cost, to implement new energy standards and to move forward with decommissioning high-consumption capacity.
Tongwei predicts that the adjustment will reach Latin America.
“It will first affect China, but it will surely affect the rest of the world in the future as well, especially the Latin American market,” Zeng said, and even focused on the heterogeneity of the supply that competes in the region today.
“There are many brands, but with very different qualities. After this change in China and the new rules, the less developed capabilities will surely be phased out, and the market will return to a more logical situation, seeking products with greater power, better technologies, and greater efficiency, not just prices,” he stated.
The China Photovoltaic Industry Association supported the elimination of the tax benefit, arguing that the refund scheme had contributed to sustaining export discounts and increasing competitive pressure on international markets.
For Latin American buyers, this shift may alter supplier selection criteria. In addition to price, factors such as efficiency, bankability, guarantees, production capacity, and supply chain integration could gain greater weight in investment decisions.
“After the market and regulatory changes happening in China, the strongest and most developed companies will survive. Tongwei will surely be one of those manufacturers,” Zeng said.
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The strategy: to gain scale in Latin America
While the Chinese market is going through this adjustment process, Tongwei is looking to expand its commercial presence in a region where it still has room to grow.
“Tongwei is still very new to Latin America, especially Brazil. We are learning, developing people and teams, and getting to know the rules of this market,” Zeng acknowledged.
“For the rest of the world, we are in the Top 5 globally. So we hope that one day we will also reach this goal in this market,” he added.
The regional plan includes strengthening local teams and expanding the reach of its portfolio to the residential, commercial, industrial and utility scale segments.
TNC 3.0 and modules up to 770 W
Tongwei's technological focus is currently concentrated at TOPCon , with a focus on its new generation TNC 3.0 , presented alongside the TNC 2.0 solutions during Intersolar South America.
“Customers are always looking for the most efficient products, but also the most cost-competitive ones. We want to find a balance between both solutions,” Zeng explained.
For utility scale projects, the manufacturer mainly works with solutions in ranges above 600 W and 700 W , depending on the design and requirements of each plant.
Within the TNC 3.0 platform, the G12R-66 version reaches up to 670 W , while the G12-66 reaches 770 W , both with a declared maximum efficiency of 24.8% .
In addition, in July Tongwei announced the start of mass production of its 750W TNC 3.0-G12 module, with a manufacturing efficiency exceeding 24.14%, intended for residential, commercial, industrial and large-scale central applications.
“As solar cell manufacturers, we also have all the accumulated technologies and solutions we can offer for the future. This also depends on how the market develops and on customer demand, but Tongwei is certainly prepared for all opportunities,” Zeng concluded.