In January 2026, the Ministry of Industry and Information Technology (MIIT) and the National Standardization Administration (SAC) jointly approved the release of 68 new standards for the photovoltaic (PV) industry. Designed to address the entire industrial chain, these standards aim to provide robust technical support for high-quality development and reinforce China’s leading position in the global solar market. The PV sector, a core component of China’s “new three” export pillars (electric vehicles, lithium batteries, and solar products), is currently undergoing rapid technological iteration and application expansion. As previous standards struggled to keep pace with this evolution, the newly issued standards seek to fill critical technical gaps and resolve persistent industry challenges.
Managed by the National Technical Committee for Standardization of Solar Photovoltaic Energy Systems (SAC/TC90), the development of these standards strictly adheres to the guidelines outlined in the Photovoltaic Industry Standards System Construction Guide (2024 Edition) (see more details from our previous news coverage). The PV Industry Standards System Framework is shown below.Managed by the National Technical Committee for Standardization of Solar Photovoltaic Energy Systems (SAC/TC90), the development of these standards strictly adheres to the guidelines outlined in the Photovoltaic Industry Standards System Construction Guide (2024 Edition) (see more details from our previous news coverage). The PV Industry Standards System Framework is shown below.
Managed by the National Technical Committee for Standardization of Solar Photovoltaic Energy Systems (SAC/TC90), the development of these standards strictly adheres to the guidelines outlined in the Photovoltaic Industry Standards System Construction Guide (2024 Edition) (see more details from our previous news coverage). The PV Industry Standards System Framework is shown below.
A key highlight of the release is the introduction of the recommended national standard GB/T 46340-2025 Green product assessment–Photovoltaic modules and inverters (set to take effect on May 1, 2026), which is the first national green product evaluation standard in the PV industry, setting a technical benchmark for its green development. Moreover, the Residential gird-connected photovoltaic system series of standards addresses issues such as improper installation and lack of after-sales service guarantees in the distributed PV market. The Waste photovoltaic module recycling and recovery series specifies recycling processes and technical specifications, promoting the standardized and efficient disposal and recycling of modules.
In terms of international coordination, China has actively adopted core international standards such as IEC 61215 Terrestrial photovoltaic (PV) modules – Design qualification and type approval and IEC 61730 Photovoltaic (PV) module safety qualification, improving the consistency between domestic and international standards. This move is expected to build a bridge for standard communication for green energy cooperation under the Belt and Road Initiative, and facilitate the “going global” of Chinese photovoltaic technology and standards.
Looking ahead, SAC/TC90 plans to further refine the PV standards system in line with the national standardization strategy and the upcoming 15th Five-Year Plan. Priorities include accelerating the development of mandatory national standards and classification criteria and standards for emerging technologies like high-efficiency perovskite modules, PV system integration, innovative “PV+” applications and green PV. Efforts will also be intensified to promote and assess the implementation of released standards, guide enterprises to adopt advanced standards, and unite industry, academia, research, and users to ensure standards are effectively applied, thereby making them more effective in supporting policy implementation, regulating market applications, and improving product quality.
