“China's PV industry not only leads innovation in patents and technology but also makes tangible contributions to green energy governance and global carbon cycles.”

The European Patent Office (EPO)'s “Insights into Photovoltaic Technology Progress” report traces the global development trajectory of PV technology using patent data spanning five decades from 1974 to 2023. The report indicates that China is playing an increasingly vital role in current PV innovation.

For Chinese PV enterprises accelerating their overseas market expansion, these patents not only reflect technological accumulation but also determine their ability to successfully enter diverse markets. In areas such as materials, devices, management, and applications, certain technologies have already demonstrated outstanding potential in overseas markets.

1. 1.Rapid Growth in Perovskite Patents: Balancing Efficiency and Environmental Sustainability

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In the materials sector, perovskite technology is emerging as a potential breakthrough for Chinese PV companies targeting high-end overseas markets. Since 2016, global patents in this field have surged nearly a thousandfold, with over 60% originating from Chinese research institutions and leading enterprises. Whether it's single-junction cells exceeding 26% efficiency or perovskite-silicon tandem cells surpassing 30%, these achievements demonstrate China's competitiveness in this cutting-edge field. Simultaneously, these patents extend beyond efficiency metrics to cover processes like “solution-based fabrication” and “heavy-metal-free formulations,” providing additional compliance advantages and premium potential for entering the European market.

This strategic positioning means products not only meet Germany's residential PV project requirement for module efficiency of at least 24%, but also circumvent REACH regulation restrictions on heavy metals at the compliance level, thereby gaining added value in the European market. In other words, for a roof of the same size, using Chinese tandem modules could generate enough electricity to meet household needs with potential surplus power, creating a tangible difference.

2. Advances in Silicon-Based Passivation Technology: Balancing Cost and Reliability

Concurrently, China's progress in silicon-based passivation technology is equally noteworthy. From 2010 to 2023, patents related to TOPCon and HJT grew over 300-fold, with a significant proportion already translated into mass production capabilities. Take Tongwei's TOPCon modules as an example: they achieve over 24% efficiency while costing 8%-10% less than traditional PERC solutions. In emerging markets, the advantages of such products are particularly pronounced. Photovoltaic projects in Southeast Asia and Africa commonly face high-temperature, high-humidity environments. The low degradation characteristics of TOPCon modules (annual degradation rate below 1.5%) help extend power plant lifespans and reduce maintenance frequency. This combination of cost-effectiveness and durability makes Chinese companies more appealing to project developers in competitive bidding.

3. Multilayer Cell Strategy: The Path to Premium Markets

As a next-generation high-efficiency PV technology, multilayer cells are increasingly demonstrating their potential to reshape future competitive landscapes. According to EPO data, global international patent families related to tandem cells exceed 21,000, with Chinese applicants accounting for over half. These patents cover core aspects like “series structure design” and “interface modification.” Take Trina Solar as an example: its mass-produced α tandem modules have achieved efficiency exceeding 28%, maintaining global leadership.

This patent advantage is increasingly evident in overseas markets. The U.S. Inflation Reduction Act offers additional subsidies for modules exceeding 27% efficiency, a policy perfectly aligned with China's tandem cell products, enhancing their competitiveness in the North American market. Simultaneously, the broad-spectrum absorption characteristics of tandem cells adapt well to the low-light conditions of Northern Europe, boosting winter power generation by approximately 10%-12%. For projects in Northern Europe long constrained by climatic conditions, this improvement holds significant practical value.

4. Bifacial Modules and Sun-Tracking Systems: Optimizing Payback Periods

In large-scale power plant projects, the integration of bifacial modules with sun-tracking systems is increasingly becoming a common solution for boosting returns. Chinese enterprises hold over 70% of relevant patents, covering the entire chain from “double-glass structures” and “anti-PID degradation” to “dual-axis tracking algorithms” and “wind load optimization.” Project experience across multiple regions indicates that deploying this combination in the Middle East can yield over 30% higher power generation.

This gain directly impacts investment logic. Taking desert power plants as an example, conventional projects typically require five years to break even. However, adopting bifacial modules and solar tracking systems can shorten this period to approximately 4.2 years. For developers sensitive to capital recovery timelines, such differences often become critical considerations during the bidding process. Additionally, the wind and sand resistance along with corrosion-resistant properties of double-glass bifacial modules enable them to better adapt to environmental conditions in regions like the Middle East and Australia. This extends plant lifespan while reducing O&M costs.

5. AI Diagnostic Technology: Enhancing Remote O&M Efficiency

As overseas PV projects continue to expand in scale, achieving efficient operation and maintenance has become an urgent challenge. Report data indicates that global patents related to PV AI diagnostics have surged nearly a thousandfold over the past decade, with many originating from Chinese companies like Sungrow and Jinzhi Technology. These patents focus on areas such as “multi-dimensional data collection” and “precise fault localization.” Some technologies have already achieved rapid diagnostics based on drone inspections and AI algorithms, with fault identification accuracy exceeding 98% and response times reduced to under one hour.

For regions facing labor shortages and poor transportation infrastructure, such patented solutions offer exceptional value. Take power plants in Africa and Latin America as examples: remote operation and maintenance platforms can reduce on-site maintenance frequency by more than half. Simultaneously, the application of AI predictive maintenance is accelerating, such as forecasting potential inverter failures three months in advance. This capability effectively lowers the risk of downtime—in Europe, a single day of downtime at a power plant can result in economic losses exceeding $10,000 per megawatt.

6. Recycling Technology: Regulatory Compliance and Cost Advantages

Amidst global environmental consensus, PV module recycling is becoming a mandatory requirement in overseas markets. Both the EU's New Battery Regulation and Waste Framework Directive mandate PV module recycling rates exceeding 85% by 2030. EPO patent data indicates that Chinese enterprises are accelerating their布局 in silicon wafer and metal recycling. From 2010 to 2023, China accounted for 45% of global patent applications in this field. For example, GCL Technology's silicon material recycling technology has achieved 99.999% purity and entered commercial application.

This technology not only addresses compliance requirements but also delivers commercial value. European PV project tenders increasingly mandate submission of “full life-cycle environmental reports,” granting companies with recycling capabilities preferential bidding eligibility. Simultaneously, the raw material recycling enabled by these processes reduces polysilicon procurement costs, estimated to save 10%-15%. For Chinese enterprises operating in Europe, this advantage holds significance in both compliance and cost reduction.

7. BIPV: Aligning with Europe's Building Retrofit Potential

Photovoltaic applications are progressively shifting from ground-mounted power plants toward tighter integration with buildings. The EPO report indicates Europe has become the world's largest BIPV market, accounting for over half of global demand in 2023. Chinese companies are accelerating their patent positioning in this direction, covering areas such as “customized aesthetics,” “wind load resistance,” and “dual functionality as power generation and building materials.” For instance, Longi's BIPV roof modules maintain high power generation efficiency while ensuring waterproofing, making them particularly suitable for retrofitting Europe's older buildings. Between 2010 and 2023, China's BIPV-related patent applications surged over 200-fold, demonstrating significant momentum in catching up.

This strategy aligns closely with European policy directives. The “Future Buildings” initiative mandates that new constructions achieve over 30% photovoltaic coverage. Riding this wave, Chinese BIPV products have entered projects like France's “Zero-Carbon Communities,” securing individual contracts exceeding €100 million. Concurrently, patented innovations in lightweight modules (approximately 30% lighter than traditional components) enable compliance with Europe's historical buildings' limited load-bearing constraints.

8. Photovoltaic Hydrogen Production: Cross-Boundary Exploration in Energy Transition

Photovoltaic hydrogen production is emerging as a new pathway in the energy transition. With rising global demand for green hydrogen, the report forecasts overseas green hydrogen projects will require over 500GW of PV capacity by 2030. Chinese enterprises are accelerating patent positioning in areas like “PV-electrolyzer coordinated control” and “low-energy hydrogen production.” For instance, State Grid's “direct PV-to-hydrogen” technology achieves approximately 12% higher energy efficiency than conventional methods and has been deployed in projects in Saudi Arabia and Australia.

These patents provide comprehensive solutions for large-scale green hydrogen initiatives in the Middle East and Australia. From PV power generation to hydrogen production, followed by energy storage and output, Chinese companies can deliver integrated solutions that enhance overall project profitability. Additionally, certain patents cover “wide load adaptability,” helping buffer fluctuations in PV output and ensuring stability in the hydrogen production process. For large-scale green hydrogen projects, this stability holds significant practical value.

9. International Patent Gap: Discrepancy in Quantity and Influence

Although China has achieved leadership in the number of PV patents, deficiencies remain in its international patent landscape. The report indicates that while China contributed over 80% of new global PV inventions in 2022, no Chinese company appears among the top 20 applicants for international patent families. This situation implies that in core markets like Europe and North America, Chinese enterprises may face risks due to insufficient patent reserves. Recent cases of Chinese companies paying substantial damages for patent infringement in Germany underscore the industry's need for greater emphasis on overseas patent positioning.

For leading enterprises, prioritizing patent coverage in core markets like the European Patent Office (EPO) and the United States Patent and Trademark Office (USPTO) will be crucial for addressing this gap.

10. Insufficient Regional Adaptation: Challenges in Diverse Markets

Beyond the gap in international patent families, regional adaptability issues warrant attention. Significant market variations exist: Southeast Asia's high-temperature, high-humidity environments demand “corrosion-resistant components,” while North America's agro-photovoltaic models rely on “low-shading mounting systems.” Patent positioning in these areas remains weak. Without targeted technological reserves, Chinese companies may lose orders due to inadequate adaptation despite their scale advantages. Therefore, accelerating R&D aligned with regional needs will become an indispensable component of future overseas strategies.

11. Final Chapter: The Future Significance of Patents and China's Contributions

Overall, EPO patent data indicates that Chinese PV enterprises are undergoing a critical transition from “cost-driven” to “patent-driven” development. Cutting-edge technologies like perovskite, tandem cells, and silicon-based passivation open new avenues for entering high-end markets; bifacial modules and sun-tracking systems demonstrate systemic competitiveness in specific environments; AI diagnostics and recycling processes address compliance demands for overseas projects in operations, maintenance, and environmental protection. Concurrently, emerging applications like BIPV and photovoltaic hydrogen production are becoming vital extensions of overseas expansion strategies. For enterprises, future challenges lie not only in technological breakthroughs themselves but also in integrating patent strategies with internationalization and regional adaptation. While continuously accumulating core technologies, greater emphasis on the coverage and compliance of overseas patents will help Chinese PV enterprises build more robust long-term advantages in global competition.

Against the backdrop of global carbon neutrality and energy transition, the significance of China's PV industry extends beyond single-market competition. Driven by national strategy, it is progressively becoming a vital pillar of global sustainable development. With the announcement of the “carbon peak by 2030 and carbon neutrality by 2060” goals, China has taken the lead in making world-class energy transition commitments. Through the scaled development of its PV industry, it has reduced the cost per kilowatt-hour by over 80% in a decade, providing the world with an affordable green public good.

From carbon cycles to green value chains, Chinese enterprises' explorations in silicon material recycling, material reuse, and PV-hydrogen coupling have contributed replicable experiences to the international community. Simultaneously, China actively participates in setting international standards through organizations like IEC and ISO, promoting global harmonization in areas such as module specifications, testing protocols, and environmental requirements. This demonstrates a role shift from “manufacturer to rule-shaper.”

From this perspective, China's PV industry not only leads innovation in patents and technology but also delivers tangible contributions to green energy governance and global carbon cycling. This contribution has progressively strengthened China's role in global climate change response and sustainable development goals, endowing the Chinese approach with deeper significance in the world's energy transition.