Liu Hanyuan, NPC deputy, also vice-chairman of the All-China Federation of Industry and Commerce and chairman of the board of directors of Tongwei Group. [photo provided to China.org.cn]

Last year, China installed more than half of new global renewable energy, with the country's renewable energy now surpassing thermal power for the first time in terms of installed capacity. As such, renewable energy has become a new force in ensuring China's power supply. 

Liu Hanyuan is a deputy to the National People's Congress (NPC), as well as vice-chairman of the All-China Federation of Industry and Commerce and chairman of the board of directors of Tongwei Group. In an interview with China.org.cn, Liu pointed out that the photovoltaic industry has become one of China's most internationally competitive and influential strategic emerging industries. He added that the country's energy transformation is currently accelerating, and the conditions for achieving the "dual carbon" goals are improving.

After 10 years of development, China's photovoltaic industry has now formed a world-leading complete photovoltaic industry chain, Liu said. Under the guidance of the dual carbon goals in particular, there is no doubt that it has now entered the fast lane of development.

As one of the world's top photovoltaic companies, Tongwei Group has participated in and witnessed the entire process of China's photovoltaic industry. Liu said that in the future, the group will continue to strengthen technological R&D innovation, seek to master key and core technologies, cultivate and develop new quality productive forces, further strengthen industrial core competitive advantages, and actively contribute to realizing China's dual carbon targets and the global green energy transformation.

China's photovoltaic industry is currently facing a severe and complex international situation, with global competition, trade barriers and other factors generating uncertainties. At present, the world's first "carbon tariff," the European Union's carbon border adjustment mechanism, has been in trial operation for nearly five months. According to the European Parliament, the carbon tariff will be officially implemented in 2026, and is expected to have multiple impacts on Chinese companies exporting to the EU.

Liu called on all countries to abandon various protective measures, truly adapt to the changes to the environment and climate facing humankind, jointly promote the rapid development of industries and accelerate the global energy transformation. 

"In the next 20 to 30 years, if humanity can achieve a 90% to 100% energy transformation, then global carbon dioxide emissions will likely be reduced from the current 35 billion tons per year to less than 5 billion tons, basically achieving carbon neutrality," Liu said. "By that time, the global response to climate change will have basically been achieved, and warming may have slowed down."

He believes that without China's manufacturing and contribution, it is impossible for the world to achieve carbon neutrality in 20-30 years. China's photovoltaics are well-positioned to promote both China's energy transformation and the energy transition of developed countries and regions such as Europe and the United States. They are also well-positioned to encourage countries participating in the Belt and Road Initiative (BRI) to surpass the old development model of "pollute first, clean up later," enabling them to enter a sustainable future based on new energy sources. 

Since the BRI was proposed, Tongwei Group has contributed a number of Chinese products, Chinese technologies and Chinese solutions to countries taking part in the BRI. The group has cooperated with companies in Pakistan, Poland and other countries in technology R&D, striving to achieve sustainable development and empower local energy transformation and green development. In the future, the group will continue to promote the broad and in-depth market blueprint for realizing the globalization of the photovoltaic industry, and continue to develop technology, manufacture high-quality products and promote pragmatic cooperation.

"We must face the overseas situation with a positive attitude. But in the industry, if we adopt a prudent approach and patient attitude, we may develop more healthily — the right development speed can benefit everyone," Liu said. "In this process, we must grasp the opportunities and strengthen relevant efforts to make resource allocation more reasonable and effective."