The development of photovoltaics and energy storage in China has significant implications for the global energy transition

China's development in the fields of photovoltaics and energy storage is of great significance to the global energy transition. "During the 2026 European International Solar Exhibition held in Munich, Germany, Markus Erzesel, the organizer of the European International Solar Exhibition and the founder and CEO of the German Solar Energy Promotion Company, stated in an interview with reporters that China has significantly reduced the global cost of clean energy through large-scale manufacturing, technological progress, and industrial chain improvement, making renewable energy truly globally competitive.

He pointed out that in the past decade, China has promoted the large-scale development of the photovoltaic industry, not only establishing an efficient and complete supply chain system, but also significantly reducing costs through continuous optimization of manufacturing processes. It is precisely this rapid scaling capability that has transformed solar and energy storage technologies from early high cost technologies to competitive energy choices in the market today. In his view, China's influence is not only reflected in the photovoltaic field, but also profoundly changes the development path of the energy storage industry. With the continuous decrease in energy storage costs, the combination of photovoltaics and energy storage is accelerating its application worldwide.

Erzesel believes that this change indicates that the global energy transition is entering a new stage, shifting from simply expanding renewable energy installations to placing more emphasis on system integration and stable operation. With the continuous growth of photovoltaic installed capacity, the mismatch between electricity supply and demand in the time dimension has become increasingly prominent, and energy storage is the key technology to solve this problem, "he said.

On this basis, the development focus of the energy industry is shifting from single generation to system synergy. The reporter saw at the exhibition site that more and more companies are showcasing integrated solutions covering photovoltaics, energy storage, electric vehicle charging, and energy management systems, rather than single devices. Erzesel stated that this trend indicates that the energy industry is accelerating its integration, and future competition is no longer limited to single product performance, but lies in system integration capabilities. He pointed out that Chinese companies are also transforming from equipment suppliers to comprehensive energy solution providers, which will further reshape the industry landscape.

When it comes to China Europe cooperation, Erzesel stated that the two sides have obvious complementary advantages in the field of new energy: China has outstanding advantages in large-scale manufacturing, supply chain efficiency, and cost control, while Europe has accumulated rich experience in renewable energy grid connection, grid scheduling, and system management. If both sides strengthen cooperation, they can promote the global energy transition process with higher efficiency and lower cost

Erzesel also emphasized that, starting from the practical needs of energy transformation, open cooperation is more important than setting up barriers, which can help provide the market with more competitively priced clean energy solutions and enable Europe to advance decarbonization goals at a more sustainable cost. He stated that deepening cooperation between China and Europe will become an important driving force for promoting global green transformation.