Under the guidance of the Sichuan Provincial Development and Reform Commission (Sichuan Province Resource Administration) and organized by the Sichuan Channel of people.com.cn, the "Toward the 'New' and Five Districts Prosper Together - A Series of Interviews with Sichuan-based Energy Enterprises" recently featured Tongwei Group. Liu Hanyuan, Deputy to the NPC, Vice Chairman of the All-China Federation of Industry and Commerce, and Chairman of the Board of Directors of Tongwei Group, accepted an exclusive interview from people.com.cn discussing Tongwei's leadership in the new energy industry and how it persists in technological innovation, forges new quality productive forces of energy, and facilitates the global green energy transition.

Reporter from people.com.cn: How does Tongwei persist in technological innovation, forge new quality productive forces of energy, and lead the transformative development of the PV industry?

Liu Hanyuan: New quality productivity emphasizes the cultivation of strategic emerging industries and future-ready industries. Under this strategic definition, the new energy industry, one of six strategic emerging industries, has reached new heights.

Tongwei's Longpao “Integration of Fishery and PV” Base in Jiangsu Province

In the first quarter of 2024, China's newly installed renewable energy capacity was 63.67 million kilowatts, up 34% year-on-year, accounting for 92% of new installations. By March 2024, China’s renewable energy capacity reached 1.585 billion kilowatts, up 26% year-on-year, representing 52.9% of the total installed capacity, with wind and PV power generation exceeding 1.1 billion kilowatts. Currently, China leads the world in PV cell production capacity (85%) and high-purity crystalline silicon production capacity (95%). The PV industry has become China's most competitive and influential strategic emerging industry and a symbol of high-end manufacturing.

As a leading global photovoltaic company, Tongwei has participated in and witnessed the evolution of China's PV industry from "follower" and "competitor" to "leader of the industry." Tongwei has always aligned with national strategies, prioritizing technological innovation. The "Yongxiang Method," created by Tongwei's Yongxiang Co., Ltd., has advanced to its eighth generation, achieving silicon purity surpassing 11N. This method satisfies the standards for P-type and N-type monocrystalline silicon materials, with some qualities approaching electronic-grade semiconductor silicon material standards. Moreover, its electronic-grade polycrystalline silicon has been successfully exported, marking a milestone in China's intelligent manufacturing sector for high-purity crystalline silicon production. Yongxiang Co., Ltd.'s high-purity crystalline silicon output now accounts for over 25% of the global market, reinforcing Tongwei’s leading position in this field.

Tongwei continues to lead in the solar cell and PV module sector with its ever-improving independent research and development capabilities. On May 29, Tongwei’s proprietary THC210 high-efficiency module achieved a maximum output power of 765.18 watts and a photoelectric conversion efficiency of 24.63% (based on standard-sized (2384*1303mm) samples tested by TÜV Rheinland), while its proprietary TNC210 module reached 743.2 watts with a photoelectric conversion efficiency of 23.93% (also tested by TÜV Rheinland). Since 2023, Tongwei has set a world record for the eighth time in the history of heterojunction module power and for the third time in the history of TNC series products.

Tongwei Global Innovation R&D Center's first cell rolled off the production line

Tongwei Global Innovation R&D Center's first cell on June 6 marked a breakthrough in its construction and official opening. The center mainly focuses on the R&D and pilot tests of key core technologies for new cells and modules. Tongwei holds numerous independent intellectual property achievements in core technologies such as TOPCon and HJT cells, maintaining a leading position in cell mass production conversion efficiency.

Reporter from people.com.cn: How does Tongwei promote high-quality development from "manufacturing" to "intelligent manufacturing"?

Tongwei's intelligent manufacturing line of high-efficiency cells

Liu Hanyuan: With the advent of Industry 4.0, intelligent manufacturing has emerged as a key trend in the manufacturing industry. Tongwei has pioneered the exploration of "5G + Industrial Internet" and achieved digital park management and unmanned intelligent manufacturing in workshops through 5G + intelligent manufacturing solutions. The Group has taken the lead in realizing industrial digitization, production intelligence, and smart management. Compared with conventional production lines with similar capacity, Tongwei's 5G intelligent production line has reduced labor by about 62%, lowered energy consumption by about 30%, and improved production efficiency by about 161%. While reducing energy consumption, it has also achieved cost reduction and efficiency enhancement, making it a benchmark project for global intelligent manufacturing. Tongwei’s PV New Energy Industry Chain has been repeatedly listed as an intelligent PV pilot demonstration enterprise by the Ministry of Industry and Information Technology, earning numerous honors, including China’s Benchmark Intelligent Factory, Intelligent Manufacturing Demonstration Factory, and Excellent Scenarios for Intelligent Manufacturing.

Tongwei's intelligent manufacturing line of high-efficiency modules