Solar energy is one of the most promising alternative energies, and China is the country that, with its factories, is making it economically viable. In this article, we will talk about the technical specifications you need to know to import solar panels, the strategies for choosing a Chinese supplier, the regulations you need to comply with when importing this product, and anti-dumping duties, which are an important factor for anyone who wants to import solar panels.
Product Specifications
Chinese manufacturing companies are used to making products according to the specifications required by the importer. The solar panel market is slightly different in that no customization is almost never required. Solar panel suppliers therefore manufacture the goods according to a predetermined set of product specifications.
That said, not all suppliers make panels with the same quality. Here’s a list of the basic specifications you should consider:
- On-grid or off-grid
- Life time (20 – 25 years)
- Materials (Polycrystal or single crystal)
- Salt protection (required if installing panels in coastal areas)
- Panel cladding
- Cell efficiency (e.g. 17.2%)
- Number of cells: e.g. 60 cells per panel (6×10)
- Cell size
- Size of solar panels
- Weight of solar panels
- Rated power
- Maximum voltage
- Operating Temperature Range
- Maximum loading capacity
- Models and brands of cables and connectors
- Cable length
- Output tolerance
- Structure materials
Although the specifications should be provided by the Chinese manufacturer, if you are interested in importing panels with precise characteristics you can send a list of specifications to the manufacturer to find out if they are able to make a product similar to the one you want.
Loss of efficiency
Most suppliers offer a 25-year warranty. Many suppliers claim that their panels maintain an efficiency (i.e. the level of energy leaving compared to the energy input) between 90% and 95% in the first 10 years of life and between 80% and 85% in the following 15 years. This is in theory: in practice, there are very few providers who have real statistics that can support these promises.
System components
There are two sets of components: the components that make up the panel and those that make up the power system. Click here for details. Please note that in order to be legally imported, all components must comply with European certification standards.
Solar Panel Suppliers in China
China is the leading country in the production and export of solar panels. The industry is dominated by a handful of companies such as Yingli Solar, a company that, if you like football, you will have learned about during the World Cup in Brazil (it was one of the main sponsors).
However, consider that the 5-10 largest manufacturing companies do not accept small and medium-sized companies as customers. This is not really a problem as, on Alibaba alone, there are at least 3000 suppliers who specialize in solar panels. Among them, the majority (about 90%) are located in the provinces of Zhejiang, Jiangsu and Guangdong.
When we select solar panel suppliers for our customers, we do so based on the following factors:
1. Quality management system
A quality management system is a set of procedures that aims to ensure the quality of goods and detect any defects before, during and after production: the control of materials and components, functionality tests during production and the final post-assembly test. The most common quality management system is ISO 9001.
While when it comes to simple products a quality management system does not matter too much, when you want to import complex electronic products such as LED screens or solar panels, then it becomes a key factor as a stock of defective circuits or chips could be enough to ruin the entire production.
2. Compliance with European safety directives
Although many importers assume that all Chinese suppliers focus on exporting to Europe and the United States, and therefore know and want to comply with European safety directives, the reality is that most Chinese suppliers have no experience in exporting to these markets. This is even more true for solar panels.
First of all, domestic demand absorbs a good percentage of China’s solar panel production. In addition, South America, Africa, the Middle East and Southeast Asia are also important markets. So many suppliers specialize in this type of market, which requires lower safety standards than those necessary to import into a country belonging to the European Union.
3. Supplier Company Size
First of all, importing solar panels from a wholesaler makes no sense: you need a manufacturing company capable of making, as already mentioned, products that comply with European safety standards. It is important to note that, in this industry, the size of suppliers is higher than average: this is a positive fact as solar panels are a constantly evolving product and suppliers, to keep up, must invest in research and product development. In addition, there is always the risk that things will not go well during the production phase and, in this case, it is essential that the manufacturing company has enough capital to be able to buy materials and components again and proceed to production again.
Anti-dumping duties
European Union
Despite the procedure that began in 2012, in the end the European Union and China have come to an agreement: there will be no anti-dumping duties; but a minimum price at which the panels must be sold.
United States
In the United States, there is an anti-dumping duty that ranges between 18.56% and 35.21%.
Solar Panel Fairs in China
Visiting a trade show is a great way to get to know the industry’s leading suppliers and compare prices. If you are thinking of importing solar panels from China, I recommend the following trade shows:
Canton Fair – Phase 1
It is the most important fair in China and is held every six months (in April and October) in Guangzhou, Guangdong province.
SNEC PV Power Expo
SNEC is an exhibition held annually in Shanghai. Click here to learn more about the SNEC PV Power Expo.
Hong Kong Electronics Fair
It is a fair organized annually by the HKTDC (Hong Kong Trade and Development Council).
SIPE Solar Expo
As the name suggests, the China International Solar Power Generation Products Exposition (SIPE SOLAR EXPO) is a specialized solar energy exhibition. It is held annually in Nanjing, the capital of Jiangsu Province.
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