Featured in High time for a masterplan – 06-2023

Walls up for wafers

China could be set to respond to protectionist moves by solar rivals by restricting exports of big wafer technology. Vincent Shaw considers how effective such a move might be and how valuable a bargaining chip it could be for Beijing.

By

Vincent Shaw

09 Jun 2023

Restrictions on wafer technology exports could delay plans by Chinese manufacturers to establish facilities outside China. | Photo: Longi

China is tightening export restrictions for silicon wafer technology. In late 2022, the ministries of commerce and of science and technology proposed an amendment to China’s Export Prohibition and Restricted Technology Catalogue. The ministries want to add PV wafer production technology – including large wafer equipment, black silicon, and ultra-high efficiency ingot casting and mono/polycrystalline …

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