Key Highlights

  • China proposed adding 12 solar manufacturing technologies to its export-control list, citing national security and use in aerospace and defense.
  • Eight technologies face bans, including perovskite and tandem cell processes, and four, including TOPCon and HJT cell processes, face restrictions.
  • The proposal sits within a broader revision covering 40 technologies across solar, artificial intelligence and biomedicine.
  • Public consultation closes November 15, and exporters must now register certain overseas technology transfers until the export-control list is updated.

The Proposal

China’s ministry of commerce has proposed export controls on 12 technologies used to make solar equipment, citing national security concerns. The move is part of a broader revision of the export-control list that also covers artificial intelligence and biotechnology.

The commerce and science ministries issued the proposal jointly as Announcement No. 48 of 2026, covering 40 technologies across solar manufacturing, AI and biomedicine. The AI items cover frontier AI know-how and manufacturing processes. The ministry said in a statement on Friday that greater oversight is needed because solar technologies are increasingly used in sensitive areas such as aerospace and national defense. The controls aim to “guard against the risks of technologies from running out of control or being improperly disseminated, while safeguarding normal international exchanges and cooperation in science and technology,” the ministry said.

What Is Banned

The proposal bans eight of the technologies. They include processes for some thin wafers, perovskite and tandem solar cells, and large-scale fluidized-bed polysilicon production.

Prohibited technologies cannot be exported at all. Perovskite is an emerging technology that offers potential for increased conversion efficiency. Tandem cells combine perovskite and silicon layers to capture more of the sunlight spectrum. Fluidized-bed technology for producing polysilicon, a key building block for solar panels, is less expensive and more energy-efficient than the dominant Siemens process.

The banned list names perovskite-silicon tandem cell processes on wafers of at least 182 millimeters that reach efficiency of 30 percent or more, perovskite modules of at least one square meter at set efficiency levels, and silicon wafers 70 micrometers or thinner. It also names slot-die coating processes for perovskites with coating widths of at least 1.1 meters, and fluidized-bed processes for trichlorosilane at 250,000 metric tons a year or more per line and for silane at 20,000 metric tons a year or more. Certain edge-passivation technologies for thin crystalline-silicon cells complete the list.

What Is Restricted

Four further technologies face restrictions rather than bans. The proposal restricts, but does not prohibit, exports of advanced solar cell manufacturing technologies, including TOPCon, HJT and XBC. It also restricts polysilicon plant engineering for lines of at least 30,000 metric tons a year, advanced crystal-pulling processes and advanced wafer-cutting processes. Restricted technologies need government approval and licenses to leave the country.

Finished solar cells and modules are not directly affected. The measures target know-how: licensing, overseas production-line installation and commissioning, equipment exports and on-site technical support.

Registration and Timing

Exporters must now register certain overseas technology transfers until the export-control list is formally updated. The registration covers intellectual property transfers, overseas licensing, changes in foreign ownership or control, and pending deals, and is handled through the ministry’s online system. The interim requirement took effect on October 16. Public consultation on the proposal closes on November 15.

The ministry said the measures do not target any specific country, region or company.

Context

Chinese officials held initial talks with manufacturers about potential curbs on advanced solar-panel manufacturing technologies in April, a move that threatens plans by US firms such as Tesla (NASDAQ:TSLA) to expand production in the US.

Beijing has also curbed exports of solar-manufacturing technology to India. Analysts say China is seeking to preserve its dominance as India tries to build up domestic manufacturing and shake off reliance on China.