Chinese PV Industry Brief: Zhonghuan raises wafer prices as president calls for faster action on emissions

Wafer producer Zhonghuan Semiconductor has released the new product prices for May and all prices were raised, compared to the previous list. The price for G12 (210mm) wafers was raised by RMB0.60 to RMB7.23 per piece. The M6 (166mm) and G1 (158.75mm) wafers were priced at RMB4.50 and RMB4.31, respectively, both with an increase of RMB0.30. This price increase represents the largest growth registered in recent months.

Chinese president Xi Jinping has urged all regional governments, including provincial, city and county authorities, to speed up formulation of roadmaps for reaching peak carbon emissions by 2030, and becoming carbon neutral by 2060. Major central government departments including the China Ministry of Finance, National Development and Reform Commission (NDRC), National Energy Administration, and Ministry of Industry and Information Technology, will work with provincial governments on the plans. Major state owned energy enterprises including the State Power Investment Corporation (SPIC), China Huadian Group, China Huaneng Group, and national grids including the State Grid Corp of China and the China Southern Power Grid, will cooperate and support government on the roadmaps. In response, the NDRC office of Henan province released a plan to promote renewables with a major focus on solar and wind over the next five years. The document said the province will install at least 20 GW of solar and wind capacity by 2025 and its cumulative renewables capacity will reach 50 GW.

Manufacturer China Glass on Friday said its planned RMB666 million (US$104 million) purchase of glassmaker Fujian Longtai Jiahao Investment Co Ltd could lead to new-energy glass production lines in future, at an industrial park the latter is developing which fired up construction glass facilities this month and is planning an auto glass line this year. The proposed acquisition of a 55% controlling stake in Fujian Longtai, by China Glass subsidiary CNG Investment, will be subject to a shareholder vote, with further details promised by May 28.