How LONGi Green Energy Technology Dominates China’s Solar Industry with High-Tech Robots and 180mm Wafers

In a factory located in the polluted area of China’s Shaanxi province, LONGi Green Energy Technology showcases its dominance in the nation’s solar industry. The factory is equipped with robots that transport square slices of polysilicon, which are then transformed into solar cells through a series of processes involving chemical baths, laser treatments, and silver etching.

These wafers are 180mm in diameter and extremely thin, making it easy to combine several dozen cells to create a solar module. With a daily production capacity of around 16 million cells, the factory plays a significant role in China’s global supply chain for polysilicon production to the final product.

China’s solar industry has surged in recent years, with its module production capacity reaching approximately 1,000 gigawatts (GW) last year. This growth rate tripled since 2021, despite efforts by countries like the United States to increase domestic production. As a result, China now manufactures more than twice the number of solar modules that are installed worldwide annually.

This dominance is not limited to module production as China has also taken over polysilicon production from other countries including Germany and Japan. Wood Mackenzie reported that China’s share of global polysilicon production reached 79% last year, compared to just 3% for Germany and Japan combined. Additionally, China has become one of the largest consumers of renewable energy globally with an installed capacity of over 500 GW as of 2021.