China’s Ministry of Industry and Information Technology (MIIT) has issued clarifications on mandatory national standards covering solar photovoltaic module safety, labeling, energy efficiency, and energy consumption in silicon manufacturing.

The clarifications address their applicability to domestic and export markets, existing inventories and contracts, module efficiency, product testing, labeling, and enforcement.

Three standards covering energy consumption and efficiency will take effect on January 1, 2027. These include GB 29447-2026, which covers energy-consumption limits for polysilicon and germanium products; GB 47835-2026, which covers energy-consumption limits for monocrystalline silicon products; and GB 47834-2026, which specifies minimum energy-efficiency values and efficiency grades for crystalline silicon modules and inverters.

Two additional standards, GB 47739-2026 on photovoltaic module safety requirements and GB 47740-2026 on module nameplate and labeling requirements, will come into effect on June 1, 2027.

Products manufactured exclusively for export will not be subject to China’s mandatory national standards if contractual agreements in the destination market govern the technical requirements. However, products originally manufactured for export but subsequently sold in China must comply with the applicable mandatory standards.

Products sold after the implementation date must comply with the standards regardless of when they were manufactured. Manufacturers must use the transition period to manage production schedules and clear existing inventories.

Companies with long-term supply contracts specifying requirements below the new mandatory standards have also been advised to complete deliveries before implementation where possible. Contracts extending beyond the implementation date should be renegotiated to bring their technical requirements into compliance.

Modules manufactured before implementation may be reworked to comply with the new standards. However, simply replacing a nameplate will not be sufficient. Reworked modules must substantively meet all applicable technical provisions and undergo relevant testing and certification again.

China has also clarified that downgraded Grade-B photovoltaic modules sold in the domestic market will fall under regulatory supervision after the standards take effect.

The standards also require the QR-code link to remain accessible throughout the module’s expected service life.

For module power labeling, modules must undergo current-voltage testing under standard test conditions before leaving the factory. The difference between measured maximum power and nameplate power cannot exceed the smaller of the manufacturer’s declared tolerance limits and ±2%.

The energy-efficiency standard does not require manufacturers to carry out environmental stress degradation testing for every shipment. Companies may determine the testing frequency based on internal quality-control procedures, certification requirements, and buyer specifications.

For module safety testing, the standards mandate calculating the static mechanical test load by applying a safety factor of at least 1.5 to the design load.

China’s installed solar power capacity reached 1.29 TW at the end of July 2026, up 16.1% year-over-year, according to the latest electricity statistics released by the National Energy Administration.