On December 10, the 2024 China-UK Clean Energy Forum was successfully held in Manchester. Notable guests, including Tang Rui, Consul General of the Chinese Consulate General in Manchester, Bev Craig, Leader of Manchester City Council, and Zhu Kucheng, Vice-Chairman of the Standing Committee of Wuhan Municipal People’s Congress, attended the forum. The event also invited over a hundred government officials, corporate representatives, industry association members, and academic experts from both China and the UK.

As the sole invited representative from the Chinese PV sector, Tongwei actively participated in the thematic discussion on "Advancements and Innovations in Clean Energy Projects and Technologies". Based on its leading technological innovations and international collaboration experience, Tongwei is poised to enhance the possibilities for cooperation and sustainable development in the clean energy sector between China and the UK.

During the event, key leaders such as Li Lingchao, Director of the Consulate General in Manchester, Li Zhejian, Chairman of the China-UK Clean Energy Organizing Committee, and Wang Jian, Chairman of ELI Holdings Inc., visited the Tongwei exhibition booth and commended the company's technological innovations and global strategy.

Technological Innovation: The Core Engine Driving the Future of PV

In discussing how PV technology is reshaping the clean energy landscape, Xu Jie, Head of Overseas Technology of Module Marketing at Tongwei's PV Business Department, stated that the PV sector has entered a new phase, transitioning from isolated technological breakthroughs to a collaborative optimization across the entire industry chain. Through breakthroughs in high-efficiency module technology, Tongwei has not only achieved a leap in photoelectric conversion efficiency but has also established a new benchmark for sustainable development.

He mentioned that Tongwei's "Integration of Fishery and PV" model exemplifies the fusion of technological innovation and ecological preservation. This model optimizes the utilization of land and water resources to achieve a win-win scenario for both power generation and aquaculture, thereby generating significant ecological and economic benefits. This innovation method not only demonstrates the warmth of technology but also reflects the dual commitment of clean energy to society and nature, providing inspiration for the diverse applications of global clean energy. "The significance of technological innovation lies not only in enhancing efficiency but also in opening up new application scenarios, offering diversified solutions for the global energy transition," said Xu Jie.

Rising to Challenges: UK's Grid Capacity and Policy Stability

The UK exhibits strong foresight in the formulation of clean energy policies. However, it currently faces challenges in project advancement due to insufficient grid capacity, which hinders the efficient integration of many clean energy projects into the grid, delays the realization of project benefits, and also constrains the release of technological potential.

On the policy front, while the UK's policy mechanisms are characterized by support for innovation, there is still a need to strengthen the continuity and coherence of these policies. Clean energy projects typically feature long timelines, necessitating clear and stable incentive measures to mitigate market uncertainties. Therefore, enhancing the design of long-term policies to ensure that enterprises can operate under well-defined rules will contribute to improving the efficiency and scale of clean energy development.

China-UK Collaboration: From Complementary Benefits to Co-Building Demonstrations

As a significant player in the international market, Tongwei recognizes the immense potential of collaboration between China and the UK in the clean energy sector. The synergy of the two nations' "technology-driven" efforts and "policy support" forms a dual engine that propels global clean energy advancement. Building on the existing foundation of cooperation, both countries can further deepen their collaboration in distributed PV power generation and projects that integrate agriculture and energy. This not only validates the complementarity of technologies but also offers a highly actionable and sustainable pathway for global energy transition.

Tongwei's Efficient Modules in the Middlesbrough PV Project, UK

So far, Tongwei has engaged in multiple PV projects in the UK, injecting new momentum into the development of clean energy by providing high-efficiency modules and technical services to the local market.