China’s Ministry of Industry and Information Technology (MIIT) has proposed stricter efficiency requirements for photovoltaic manufacturers, raising minimum average conversion efficiencies for solar cells and modules and introducing separate thresholds for TOPCon, heterojunction (HJT) and back-contact (BC) technologies.

The draft 2026 Photovoltaic Manufacturing Industry Specifications, released for public consultation on Oct. 16 alongside proposed revisions to the system for listing compliant manufacturers, would replace the 2024 rules. The consultation period runs until Nov. 15.

For new and expanded solar cell production lines, the proposed minimum average conversion efficiencies are 26.2% for n-type TOPCon, 26.0% for HJT and 26.6% for BC technologies. The 2024 rules set a uniform 26.0% threshold for new n-type cells. Existing production lines would need to achieve efficiencies of at least 25.3% for TOPCon and HJT and 25.6% for BC, compared with the previous 25.0% requirement for n-type cells.

For new and expanded module production, the proposed minimum efficiencies are 24.2% for TOPCon, 24.0% for HJT and 24.4% for BC, up from a uniform 23.1% threshold for n-type modules under the 2024 rules. Existing module production would face minimum efficiency requirements of 23.4% for TOPCon and HJT and 23.7% for BC. All thresholds refer to average conversion efficiency, with bifacial modules assessed on front-side performance.

The draft also removes separate performance categories for multicrystalline and p-type crystalline silicon products while introducing requirements for emerging photovoltaic technologies. New tandem solar modules would need to achieve at least 27% efficiency, compared with 25% for existing tandem modules. New perovskite modules would face a minimum efficiency threshold of 20%.

The proposed revisions would also tighten requirements for upstream manufacturing. New polysilicon projects using the trichlorosilane process would face a comprehensive electricity consumption limit of less than 37 kWh/kg, compared with the previous general polysilicon benchmark of 53 kWh/kg. The draft separately proposes a 15 kWh/kg ceiling for new silane fluidized-bed projects and limits water consumption at new polysilicon facilities to 30 cubic meters per metric ton.

Manufacturers would continue to be required to spend at least 3% of annual sales on research, development and process improvements, but the minimum absolute expenditure would double to CNY 20 million ($2.94 million), from CNY 10 million. The existing minimum equity-capital ratio of 30% for new and expanded projects would remain unchanged.

The proposal also introduces a maximum degradation limit of 8.6% under combined environmental stress testing for crystalline silicon modules. It would strengthen oversight of manufacturers included on MIIT’s published compliance list through regular reviews and the removal of companies that no longer meet the requirements. Industry self-regulation would also be considered when evaluating applications.

MIIT states that the specifications are guidance rather than mandatory conditions for administrative approval. Their impact on investment decisions and efforts to reduce excess manufacturing capacity would therefore depend partly on how local authorities, financial institutions and industry participants apply the compliance criteria.

The proposed manufacturing standards were released on the same day that China’s Ministry of Commerce and Ministry of Science and Technology proposed adding 12 photovoltaic manufacturing technologies to a catalogue of restricted or prohibited technology exports. Under the separate proposal, exports of certain advanced perovskite and tandem manufacturing technologies would be prohibited.

The proposed export-control revisions are also subject to public consultation, although a temporary pre-export registration requirement for the listed technologies has already taken effect. The measures target technology transfers and certain associated equipment rather than imposing a blanket ban on solar product exports.

Together, the proposals signal increased government scrutiny of domestic photovoltaic manufacturing standards and the overseas transfer of advanced production technologies. Whether the revised efficiency requirements accelerate the phaseout of excess manufacturing capacity will depend on their final wording and implementation.