China backing Europe's green energy transition

As Europe aggressively pursues a green energy transition to reduce its reliance on imported traditional fuels, Chinese new energy companies are playing a pivotal role by providing high-quality photovoltaic solutions, industry experts said.

This collaboration is crucial as the European Union aims to significantly increase its renewable energy consumption, despite its own limited production capacity, they said.

Chinese PV manufacturers have become indispensable partners in Europe's energy transition. Their technological advancements, coupled with economies of scale, have delivered high-quality solar panels at competitive prices, making renewable energy more accessible and accelerating deployment across the continent, said Lin Boqiang, head of the China Institute for Studies in Energy Policy at Xiamen University.

As Europe has a low self-sufficiency rate for traditional energy and a high dependence on external sources, it is particularly proactive in energy structure transformation, Lin said.

The EU has set ambitious targets, aiming for 42.5 percent renewable energy in final consumption by 2030, a substantial increase from the current 32 percent. However, its own renewable energy production capabilities are insufficient to meet these goals, creating a significant opportunity for mutually beneficial cooperation with China, a global leader in green technologies.

Chinese firms, with their specialized technology and extensive experience in the PV sector, are increasingly instrumental in Europe's renewable energy development, providing solutions that span from residential rooftops to large industrial and commercial installations.

"The synergy between China's mature PV technology and Europe's ambitious renewable energy goals presents a significant opportunity for mutual growth and environmental progress," said Lin.

"Chinese companies have accumulated invaluable expertise in the solar sector, and we are committed to providing European partners with reliable and cutting-edge solutions that support their decarbonization efforts."

According to Yu Yongjian, Total-Energies China country chair, China has been at the forefront of energy technology development for the past 15 years, achieving "remarkable results".

"China's breakthroughs and global leadership in key areas such as solar panels, wind turbine generators, electric vehicles and battery technology are key indicators of China's globally leading position," he said.

The company has had large purchases of Chinese-made solar panels and the deployment of Chinese wind turbines in TotalEnergies' projects worldwide, he added.

Amid high energy prices in Europe, some Chinese companies are actively exploring the integration of solar technology into household appliances to better meet consumer demand for green living.

During the recently concluded 2025 Intersolar Europe exhibition, one of the world's most influential events in the photovoltaic industry, Chinese companies won widespread acclaim for their cutting-edge products and system integration capabilities.

The exhibition hosted over 2,700 companies from more than 50 countries and regions, including around 850 from China. The exhibitors from China showcased a wide array of innovations, ranging from high-efficiency PV modules to energy storage systems, EV charging infrastructure and integrated energy solutions.

At the event, leading solar firm Longi Green Energy Technology unveiled an award-winning solar panel. The new design was lauded for its ability to maintain strong energy conversion even when sunlight is limited, like on overcast days, and for enhanced fire safety features resulting from structural improvements.

Longi Green Energy's global marketing head, Liu Yuxi, noted the European market's openness to innovative PV technologies. He said that this encourages the company to keep increasing its investment in research and development.

Liu also said that the growing role of renewable energy in Europe's energy sources would lead to even greater opportunities for collaboration between China and Europe.

According to US renewables research firm InfoLink Consulting, China's photovoltaic module exports in 2024 were approximately 235.93 gigawatts, a 13 percent increase compared to the same period last year.

Demand in the overseas market was better than expected, with Europe importing 94.4 GW of Chinese modules, it said.

A new report, Global Market Outlook for Solar Power 2025-2029, released by SolarPower Europe, shows that China's growth in the solar industry is an important achievement, strongly promoting the rapid development of related technologies worldwide.

While solar continues to grow globally, its distribution remains highly concentrated and uneven.

In 2024, China alone added 329 GW of solar capacity — accounting for 55 percent of global installations, it said.

China, as the world's largest solar application market, accounted for almost half of both the world's new solar capacity additions and cumulative installations in 2024, said the report, hailing the nation's contributions to global decarbonization and the fact that its sustained investments have accelerated solar technology advancements worldwide.

According to Christophe Lits, senior market analyst at SolarPower Europe, the commitment of China to Europe remains strong, providing the necessary models that Europe has to actually increase installation.

China is playing a vital role in Europe's energy transition, not only by supplying quality products, but also through local production and technology partnerships, fostering strong Europe-China industrial ties, said Lits.

Company executives and experts believe that as Europe navigates its ambitious energy transition, the partnership with Chinese green technology providers will offer a clear pathway toward achieving its renewable energy targets and contributing to the global fight against climate change, presenting a genuine win-win scenario.

Liu said Longi sees its proportion of new energy in Europe's energy structure continuing to rise and the space for China-Europe cooperation continuing to expand.

Zhu Yufeng, vice-chairman and president of GCL (Group) Holdings Co Ltd, China's largest private power firm, emphasized Europe's strategic importance for the company's clean energy transition efforts.

"Europe serves as a key export destination for GCL's solar modules, and the company has built a localized service network to cater to both residential and commercial projects, continuously strengthening its sales and operational capabilities," he said.

GCL's 2024 annual report revealed a significant surge in its overseas market share, rising from 6.15 percent in 2023 to 17.5 percent. Overseas sales revenue soared by 188.72 percent year-on-year to 2.85 billion yuan ($392 million), significantly outpacing domestic growth.

Furthermore, the overseas sales gross profit margin of 11.77 percent exceeded the domestic margin by 3.46 percentage points, highlighting the profitability of the international market.

GCL's commitment to Europe extends beyond module supply.

In Spain, a crucial hub for the continent's PV industry, GCL has shipped over 5 GW of PV products to date and holds an order backlog exceeding 10 GW.

"GCL is ready to team up with European partners, using green energy as the link to jointly build a model for international production collaboration and boost global sustainable development," said Zhu.