In the height of summer, Kunshan, one of China’s most dynamic innovation hubs, buzzed with new energy and development. On June 24, the GCL Photovoltaic GW-scale perovskite industrial base officially commenced production in Kunshan High-Tech Zone, Suzhou, Jiangsu Province. The launch marks a new era of commercial-scale perovskite photovoltaic production, establishing a significant milestone for the global PV industry in reaching technological breakthroughs.

Key leaders attending the ceremony included:

• Liu Xiaotao, Deputy Secretary of the Jiangsu Provincial Party Committee and Secretary of Suzhou Municipal Party Committee

• Chen Liyan, Secretary of Kunshan Municipal Party Committee

• Fan Jianqing, Vice Secretary and Mayor of Kunshan

• Zhang Zhengbiao, Vice President of Soochow University

• Gong Qinhua, Deputy Secretary and Discipline Inspector of Suzhou Laboratory

• Sun Daoxun, Party Committee Secretary of Kunshan High-Tech Zone

• Sun Longcai, Party Secretary and President, China Construction Bank Suzhou Branch

They were joined by GCL Group Chairman Zhu Gongshan, Vice President Zhu Huiying, and GCL Photovoltaic Chairman Fan Bin, witnessing this industry-transforming moment.

Chen Liyan highlighted Kunshan and GCL’s two-decade collaborative journey, from Zhu Gongshan’s early site survey of the Xin Yuan thermal power project over 20 years ago to the commissioning of the GW-scale perovskite base. This partnership has evolved from a single project into deep integration of industry, technology, and urban development. She summarized three key achievements:

1. Industrial Green Transformation Benchmark: GCL has consistently ranked among the top global 500 new energy companies and represented private enterprises at the national leader’s roundtable on new energy, highlighting the company’s industry leadership and regional pride.

2. Science-Industry Integration Model: The perovskite project—from R&D to commercialization—was fully executed in Kunshan. GCL became the first global company to pass triple IEC reliability testing for commercial perovskite modules and established the AI high-throughput joint R&D center with Soochow University and Suzhou Laboratory.

3. Urban Development Model: Projects like the Xinxin Innovation Complex and Dayuwan GCL Digital Technology & Finance Center exemplify the integration of production, urban life, and talent development.

Looking ahead, Chen affirmed that Kunshan will continue to provide a supportive environment and strong guarantees to help GCL expand and strengthen operations in the city.

Zhu Gongshan reflected on the milestone, noting that the GW-scale perovskite base represents 13 years of technological breakthroughs and signals the arrival of a global PV technology singularity. As a third-generation PV technology, perovskite will redefine the industrial standard for low-cost, low-carbon, and high-efficiency synergy. He highlighted that the project, supported throughout its lifecycle by local governments, has set multiple “Kunshan speed” records, exemplifying government-enterprise collaboration in advancing new quality productivity.

On the technical front, Zhu detailed GCL’s perovskite applications:

• Laboratory to Multi-Scenario Demonstration: The technology has undergone “three-level jumps” from lab development to application in diverse environments:

  • Qinghai & Huaneng MW-scale demonstration project at high altitude under strong UV

  • Zhangjiakou Winter Olympics perovskite installation

  • First integrated perovskite energy management demonstration in the Greater Bay Area

  • Kubuqi Desert photovoltaic validation base, including desert, water surface, and Gobi testing

The production base will further enable “perovskite + long-duration storage”, advancing a fully integrated low-carbon ecosystem: green electricity → green hydrogen/ammonia/alcohol → green chemical → green computation.

Zhu also highlighted several global firsts for GCL perovskite:

• Largest single-junction and tandem modules

• Highest large-size module efficiency

• Largest planned production capacity

• First to pass triple IEC reliability testing by TÜV Rheinland

• First to use AI high-throughput equipment for automated R&D

These breakthroughs leverage collaboration with Tsinghua University, Soochow University, and Suzhou Laboratory, as well as long-term financial support from institutions like CCB and Everbright Bank.

Zhu outlined the “dual-drive” strategy: GW-scale mass production as the foundation, scenario demonstration as the driver, following a path of “gradual capacity ramp-up → large-scale manufacturing → tandem module capacity surge,” positioning Suzhou as a global perovskite technology hub and demonstration zone.

During the ceremony, the global first AI high-throughput joint R&D center co-built by Soochow University, Suzhou Laboratory, and GCL Photovoltaic was inaugurated to accelerate perovskite R&D with artificial intelligence.

As GCL Photovoltaic’s global R&D headquarters, the base has drawn wide attention since its planning stage, with a total capacity of 2 GW. Phase I, a 1 GW commercial perovskite module production line, began construction in May 2024. The facility is expected to further enhance tandem module cost, efficiency, and stability, potentially achieving levelized cost of electricity (LCOE) parity with crystalline silicon technology.

Since building the first MW-scale perovskite pilot line in 2021, GCL Photovoltaic has:

• Expanded module size from cm² to m² scale

• Achieved 19.04% conversion efficiency for single-junction modules and 29.51% for tandem modules

• Maintained globally leading efficiency for large-size modules

The GW-scale production line represents a critical step in commercializing technological advantages.

From an industry perspective, perovskite solar cells as a third-generation technology offer high conversion efficiency, short processing time, and low energy/cost requirements. The Kunshan base provides a commercialization benchmark for the global perovskite PV industry and accelerates the transition to high-efficiency, low-carbon, and sustainable renewable energy worldwide.