Interview with National People's Congress Representative Gao Jifan: Victory Over "Involution" in Photovoltaic Industry in Sight, Green Electricity and Smart Computing Welcome New Opportunities

Southern Finance National Two Sessions Report Team Zhou Xiaoxiao, Lei Ye Beijing Report

The government work report emphasizes building a new power system, developing new energy storage, and expanding green electricity applications. Additionally, it calls for implementing new infrastructure projects that coordinate electricity and computing.

Photovoltaics are a key industry in achieving carbon peak goals. During the 14th Five-Year Plan, China’s cumulative new installed capacity for photovoltaics increased 4.5 times compared to the 13th Five-Year Plan, leading to rapid industry growth. Looking ahead to the 15th Five-Year Plan, China will accelerate the construction of a new energy system, with photovoltaic new installations expected to continue steady growth.

However, the photovoltaic industry also faces challenges from low-price competition and is a focus for rectifying “involution” competition. Since the second half of 2025, efforts to combat “involution” have yielded positive results, with photovoltaic module prices beginning to rise.

On March 10, Gao Jifan, Chairman of Trina Solar and a National People’s Congress delegate, stated during a joint interview with the Jiangsu delegation that a key measure in combating “involution” is strengthening legal penalties against sales below cost. Regulatory authorities have increased price enforcement, guiding industry development and helping photovoltaic and energy storage product prices return to reasonable levels. In the first quarter of this year, photovoltaic module prices rose by 20%–30% compared to last year, indicating a relatively healthy industry development trend.

After the interview, Gao Jifan spoke with 21st Century Business Herald, discussing opportunities in “electricity and computing” coordination amid rapid AI development, and issues related to companies going global.

Gao Jifan told 21st Century Business Herald that the photovoltaic industry should actively embrace AI technology. “New energy + AI” integrated green energy intelligent computing systems are promoting deep integration of green energy, energy storage, and AI computing power. This not only provides robust power support for AI development but also creates new demands for the renewable energy industry, fostering mutual advancement and integration.

21st Century: Currently, photovoltaic module prices are improving. Will this trend continue this year?

Gao Jifan: We certainly hope that the initial results of combating “involution” can be sustained, with photovoltaic module prices remaining stable and the industry moving toward sustainable development. However, there are still some challenges.

First, price enforcement work is crucial and needs to be carried out more thoroughly to ensure behaviors like selling below cost are curbed.

Second, multiple approaches should be coordinated to promote healthy industry development. This includes setting standards, strengthening capacity regulation, protecting intellectual property, and advancing technological innovation to eliminate outdated and underutilized capacity, achieving supply-demand balance.

21st Century: How long might this process take?

Gao Jifan: The government work report clearly states the need to thoroughly rectify “involution” competition and foster a healthy market environment.

The timeline depends on the intensity of government efforts to combat “involution” and the systemic coordination among various ministries. Overall, achieving sustained and stable industry development and a comprehensive victory over “involution” this year is feasible.

21st Century: What impact will rapid AI development have on the industry?

Gao Jifan: AI significantly promotes the development of photovoltaics, energy storage, and the renewable energy sector. The industry must proactively adopt AI technology.

For example, Trina Solar uses AI in technological innovation, such as in the development of perovskite tandem batteries, where AI helps precisely select molecules from large molecular screenings, greatly improving research speed and efficiency.

In terminal applications, AI enables aggregation and trading of distributed smart energy and virtual power plant operations, opening market price channels and allowing homeowners to get better benefits from rooftop PV electricity. This application is steadily advancing.

AI is also widely used in quality management during manufacturing.

21st Century: Since AI demands a lot of electricity, will it boost the photovoltaic industry’s rapid growth?

Gao Jifan: AI’s foundation is electricity.

China leads globally in the renewable energy sector. We are actively building an integrated “renewable energy + AI” green energy intelligent computing system. Last year, we launched the first green energy intelligent computing project in Qinghai, and this model is gradually being promoted nationwide and globally. The core is deep integration of green energy, grid-connected energy storage, and AI computing power.

This model is highly efficient and produces green data, supporting AI’s rapid development and expanding demand for renewable energy. For both renewable energy and AI, this is a mutually beneficial, deeply integrated process.

21st Century: More Chinese companies are going global. How does Trina Solar view this?

Gao Jifan: The renewable energy industry is inherently global.

Trina Solar has gone through stages 1.0, 2.0, and 3.0 of development. Initially, it focused on product exports. After 2010, the company gradually expanded overseas capacity to address complex global trade challenges and enhance independence. Now, in the global 3.0 stage, exports and overseas deployment continue, with further cooperation on technology, patents, services, and branding with global partners to build a higher-level international development model.

China’s green energy system is a global leader. The “going out” of China’s photovoltaic industry has greatly contributed to the global energy transition and helped better address climate change. For example, some Belt and Road countries can avoid the old path of developing fossil fuels first and then transitioning to renewables, directly entering a new era of green energy and achieving energy transition “overtaking” others.

21st Century: Do companies need policy support when going abroad?

Gao Jifan: Chinese companies’ international expansion reflects China’s rising global status and is a necessary step for serving global markets. Of course, there is room to further improve the level of internationalization.

In the process of going global, besides strengthening capabilities and complying with local laws, companies also need a more comprehensive support system from the government.

First, enhance coordination among financial institutions. Financial institutions should improve service capabilities to provide integrated financial solutions for globalization and multinational companies, rather than just simple credit, enabling industry and finance to collaborate in “going out” and supporting companies’ global development.

Second, establish guidance and support systems for overseas expansion. The government should strengthen guidance to encourage Chinese companies to “group together” rather than “scatter” when going abroad. This can avoid excessive competition from clustered investments, reduce risks of sanctions, and foster a healthier overseas development environment. Companies should also be vigilant about the risks of crowding into the same markets.

Third, improve mechanisms for protecting overseas rights and interests. When companies face unfair treatment abroad, they should receive guidance and support from the government to safeguard their operational rights, reduce overseas risks, and ensure more stable and sustainable international growth.