- Joining hands with PwC China to release the China PV Power Plant Assets Transaction White Paper 2019
- 15 companies win an "All Quality Matters" award
- Launch of TÜV Rheinland PV Industry Supply Chain Comprehensive Technical Upgrade Service, calling for joint establishment of photovoltaic industry supply chain

On March 21-22, 2019, the 2019 “All Quality Matters” Solar Congress cum Award Ceremony, organized by TÜV Rheinland and supported by the China Photovoltaic Society (CPVS), took place in Suzhou, Jiangsu.

The “All Quality Matters” Solar Congress organized by TÜV Rheinland, which has become a platform for PV industry-wide exchanges, brings together more than 400 representatives, experts, and scholars from the PV industry chain, focusing on the PV revolution in the Asia-Pacific and global economy.  Among the notable figures in attendance were Shi Dinghuan, former director of the China Renewable Energy Society and former State Council Counselor, and Wang Sicheng, researcher with the Energy Research Institute of the National Development and Reform Commission. At the same time, Bloomberg New Energy Finance, Australia CEC, Japan JET, and MESIA experts were invited to provide their interpretations on the existing status and development trends of the global PV market, introduce the opportunities and challenges faced in China, Australia, Japan, the Middle East, and other PV markets, and share their insights on cutting-edge technological innovations, trends in standard certification, best business practices, etc., providing guidance for PV leaders in promoting the vigorous development of the photovoltaic industry.

In addition, a number of top Chinese PV companies attended, and participated in the panel discussions. They shared deep insights on the future development of the PV industry, in terms of domestic and international market layout and how corporate strategies match changes in the external market. Two media salons were held, sparking exciting ideas through interactive discussion.

Supply China – Because Quality Matters, Launch of TÜV Rheinland PV Industry Supply Chain Comprehensive Technical Upgrade Service

Recently, the National Energy Administration released 2018 national power industry statistics, which show that at the end of 2018, China's full-scale power generation equipment capacity was nearly 1.9 billion kilowatts, of which grid-connected solar power generation capacity was 174.63 million kilowatts, accounting for 9.19%. In solar power generation, photovoltaic power generation has always been a hotspot in the market, and a key industry sector in the promotion of international and domestic energy transformation.

On March 21, the launch of “Supply China, Because Quality Matters - TÜV Rheinland PV Industry Supply Chain Comprehensive Technical Upgrade Service” was held. Important buyers from the global PV industry, including Engie, Actis, BayWa, OPDE, Total, etc., joined hands with TÜV Rheinland to call for better quality in the PV industry supply chain.

TÜV Rheinland continues to provide supply chain services for PV projects. From supplier selection to final installation, TÜV Rheinland's PV supply chain experts utilize their experience and unmatched competence to provide comprehensive support for the smooth delivery of solar projects, helping customers to avoid the potential risks involved in PV projects.

Joining hands with PwC China to release the China PV Power Plant Assets Transaction White Paper 2019

In recent years, the domestic and international PV market has changed dramatically. In the domestic market, M&A transactions in the stock market have received attention. In the international market, subject to a lack of experience in international PV M&A transactions, Chinese investors are eager to try but encounter many obstacles....

In order to obtain comprehensive and detailed information on PV power plants and a related employees’ overview on PV plant asset trading, TÜV Rheinland and PwC China collected first-hand data and information from Chinese PV industry chain practitioners via questionnaires. Understanding of the industry's views on the current status and future development trends for PV power plant asset trading was combined with the leading practices and expertise of both parties in their respective fields to draft the China PV Power Plant Assets Transaction White Paper 2019. The White Paper aims to help companies in the PV industry chain understand the current status and trends in PV power plant assets transaction, and to help Chinese companies adjust their investment strategies and actively respond to the market.

TÜV Rheinland and PwC China jointly released this informative White Paper at this congress, detailing the development history and anticipated future trends in China's PV market, providing a summary on China's PV power plant asset transactions, discussing changes in Japan's PV market from stock market to trading market, highlighting common technical risks and financial risks in domestic PV power plant asset trading, and providing a guide on successful PV power plant trading along with case studies.

The White Paper points out that the "5.31" New Deal has for the first time imposed restrictions on the installed scale of traditional ground PV power stations. It stipulates that the construction of state-subsidized PV power stations shall not be arranged before the release of state documentation. In the future, with the anticipated overall slowdown in new PV installed capacity, large and medium-sized enterprises in the industry will rely more on mergers and acquisitions to obtain capacity, while small enterprises in the industry will be affected by state subsidies and business risks. with high cash-flow pressures, they will likely withdraw from the market through the selling of assets. China's PV market is likely to gradually shift to the power station trading market from the stock market, with the industry becoming more concentrated after integration.

Therefore, under the increasingly fierce competition, more professional power station transactions will help enterprises encounter this period of fluctuation. As a result of the impact of industry policies and technological developments, China's PV power plant investment is full of uncertainty. Compared with mature investors in overseas developed countries, domestic investors are currently facing many challenges, such as lack of strategic guidance, professional operational & management capabilities, financing channels, and capability in spotting technical risks and financial risks in stock PV power stations in transaction process, which prevents them from achieving effective control. In order to overcome these challenges, Chinese enterprises must strengthen their professional capacity in quality project development, construction and operation risk management, and financing in the PV power plant transaction process, in order to accurately grasp market opportunities and optimize asset portfolios.

15 companies win the "All Quality Matters" award

One of the highlights of this annual PV celebration, TÜV Rheinland's “All Quality Matters Award” ceremony, was held on the evening of March 21. The award competition, based on the standardization of product quality and establishment of quality benchmarks, is highly regarded by the industry for its objective and credible evaluation process and authoritative neutral selection mechanism. It has become the highest competitive stage for PV modules, inverters, energy storage systems, components, etc.  Winning an “All Quality Matters Award” has become a proof of excellence.

Today, all countries and territories are facing the challenges of energy shortages, environmental pollution, and global warming. Over the past 10 years, China’s photovoltaic industry has flourished, with cost reductions, productivity increases, and a leading position in growth momentum around the world in terms of manufacturing, export, and installation. With over 35 years of experience, TÜV Rheinland is a dedicated partner, bringing to customers the advantages of global presence, strong industry expertise, and a comprehensive lineup of services that help them to address the solar market’s evolving challenges. TÜV Rheinland’s global PV lab network covers major solar markets including China, the U.S., India, Japan, the Middle East, South America, etc. TÜV Rheinland Shanghai has been in business for 30 years, incessantly forging ahead, innovating, and grasping new trends. It launched solar testing and certification services in Greater China in 2007, continuously developing new service areas and cooperation models, dedicating to enabling more excellent quality by taking innovation. 

This year marks the fifth year in staging the successful “All Quality Matters” Solar Congress. Each step has served as a witness to the strong local influence of TÜV Rheinland. TÜV Rheinland looks forward to working with China's PV industry partners in the future, to achieve greater success and continue to help the healthy development of China's PV industry.