China’s Ministry of Commerce and Ministry of Science and Technology have published a draft revision of the Catalogue of Technologies Prohibited and Restricted from Export. The proposal adds 40 technologies, including 12 related to photovoltaic manufacturing, and is open for public comment until 15 November 2026.
An interim pre-export registration requirement took effect on 16 October, the day the draft was announced. It applies to planned transfers of listed technologies, including deals already underway but not yet completed.
The draft proposes an outright ban on exports of production processes and related equipment manufacturing technology for perovskite silicon tandem solar cells. The ban covers tandem cells produced on wafers of at least 182 mm with conversion efficiencies of 30% or higher. It also covers slot die coating processes for perovskites with coating widths of at least 1.1 metres.
Controls would extend to large area modules. Single junction perovskite modules measuring at least 1 square metre and achieving efficiencies of 18% or higher would fall within the proposed prohibited category, as would perovskite tandem modules of the same size with efficiencies of at least 28%.
Other proposed prohibitions include cold hydrogenation fluidised bed processes for trichlorosilane production with annual single line capacities of at least 250 000 metric tons, and silane based fluidised bed processes with annual capacities of at least 20 000 metric tons. The draft also covers processes for manufacturing silicon wafers no thicker than 70 micrometres, certain edge passivation technologies for thin crystalline silicon cells, and related equipment manufacturing know how.
Technologies proposed for the restricted category could be transferred overseas only with government approval and the necessary licences. These include polysilicon plant engineering technologies for production lines with annual capacities of at least 30 000 metric tons, advanced crystal pulling processes and wafer cutting processes.
The draft also covers high-performance manufacturing processes for tunnel oxide passivated contact, back contact and heterojunction solar cells. These include deposition, passivation, diffusion and metallisation technologies. The heterojunction provisions include certain p type technologies assessed under air mass zero illumination conditions relevant to space applications.
Finished solar cells and modules would not be directly affected by the proposed measures. However, transfers of controlled manufacturing know how through technology licensing, overseas production line installation and commissioning, equipment exports and on-site technical support could be prohibited or require government approval.
Companies must register planned exports of listed technologies, including qualifying key equipment, through the Ministry of Commerce online system before transfer. The requirement covers intellectual property transfers, overseas technology licensing, changes in ownership or control involving foreign entities, and transactions in progress.
China’s Ministry of Commerce said the proposals address national security concerns as photovoltaic technologies increasingly find applications in aerospace, defence and other sensitive sectors. It said technologies below the specified thresholds, as well as finished products made using controlled technologies, fall outside the proposed scope.
The ministry added that the measures do not target any particular country, region or company. If adopted, the controls could reinforce China’s position in advanced photovoltaic manufacturing by limiting overseas access to some of its most sophisticated production technologies.
Author: Bryan Groenendaal
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