As of the end of February 2025, the total installed capacity of distributed photovoltaic power generation in Guangzhou has reached 3.01 million kilowatts, which is five times the scale at the beginning of the 14th Five-Year Plan. “In the past three years, we have saved over 740,000 yuan in electricity costs through photovoltaic power generation, averaging about 250,000 yuan annually,” said a representative from the Baiyun International Conference Center.
Standing on the roof of the Baiyun International Conference Center, the impressive sight of over 40,000 square meters of blue photovoltaic panels continuously converting solar energy into electricity is striking. The center’s annual average power generation of 4.37 million kilowatt-hours covers 72% of its electricity needs, making it a prime example of the new energy and new energy storage industry application scenarios in Guangzhou during the distributed photovoltaic construction briefing.
The new energy and new energy storage industry is one of the 15 strategic industrial clusters within Guangzhou’s “12218” modernization industrial system. On March 27, during the briefing, it was reported that distributed photovoltaic power generation, as an important branch of the new energy sector, is developing rapidly in Guangzhou. Currently, the total installed capacity has reached 3.01 million kilowatts, making it the largest among provincial capital cities in China and five times the scale at the beginning of the 14th Five-Year Plan. Last year alone, it directly spurred fixed asset investment of approximately 4 billion yuan in the secondary industry.
“Photovoltaic power generation turns green into gold. The collaboration between state-owned and private enterprises is invigorating new momentum for industrial development,” said Chen Xu, Executive Deputy Director of the Greater Bay Area Office and Deputy Director of the Development and Reform Commission of the city. “Guangzhou has abundant building rooftop resources, a well-developed power grid, and strong capabilities for integrating and utilizing new energy, providing excellent foundational conditions for advancing distributed photovoltaic projects.”
Distributed photovoltaic systems are facilities built close to user sites, allowing users to generate and consume power while sending excess electricity to the grid. As of the end of February 2025, Guangzhou has achieved a total installed capacity of 3.01 million kilowatts, which is five times the scale at the beginning of the 14th Five-Year Plan. The distributed photovoltaic construction briefing is the first event in a series promoting the application of new energy and new energy storage industries in Guangzhou.
Why was the briefing themed around “application scenarios”? Qu Yong, Director of the Energy Department of the Development and Reform Commission, explained that the most intuitive manifestation of industrial development is the level of product application in the economy and society. Large-scale applications can directly drive the industry to develop at a higher level. “Currently, out of about 3 million kilowatts of distributed photovoltaic installations in the city, approximately 2 million kilowatts are installed by medium and large industrial enterprises, while there is still significant potential for other energy-consuming entities such as schools and hospitals,” he added. “Through this briefing, we hope to work together with all sectors to promote industry applications.”
Last year, Guangzhou completed and connected more than 1.2 million kilowatts of distributed photovoltaic projects to the grid, generating over 2 billion kilowatt-hours of electricity. This not only effectively reduced electricity costs for society but also fostered a green and low-carbon transformation of the economy. Additionally, the construction of distributed photovoltaic projects has provided strong support for product research, application, and iterative upgrades for local manufacturers of photovoltaic components, inverters, brackets, and cables, directly driving fixed asset investment in the secondary industry by around 4 billion yuan.
Looking ahead, it is expected that the annual scale of distributed photovoltaic construction in Guangzhou will maintain around 1 million kilowatts in the coming years, directly driving investments of over 3 billion yuan and injecting strong momentum into the high-quality development of the city’s new energy and new energy storage industries.
What benefits can distributed photovoltaic projects bring to energy-consuming units? Is the operational maintenance difficult? “In the past three years, we have saved over 740,000 yuan in electricity costs through photovoltaic power generation, averaging about 250,000 yuan annually,” stated a representative from the Baiyun International Conference Center. The center’s photovoltaic power station was connected to the grid on May 15, 2020, with a total installed capacity of 4.19MW, utilizing the roofs of five buildings. From 2022 to 2024, the average annual power generation was 4.37 million kilowatt-hours, with an average self-consumption rate of 72.6%.
The majority of the photovoltaic electricity generated is consumed by the Baiyun International Conference Center’s operations, truly achieving sustainable green development. A cleaning robot can be seen working on the photovoltaic panels on the roof. “We use two automatic cleaning robots that handle a ‘deep clean’ twice a year without manual intervention and can finish the job in a day,” the representative explained. This photovoltaic system is designed for intelligent operation and maintenance, achieving a “unmanned” status, with panel lifespans reaching 30 years.
Next, the Baiyun International Conference Center plans to expand its new energy storage devices and install more photovoltaic panels. Through these “large batteries,” it aims to supply electricity generated during the day for nighttime use, integrating photovoltaic and energy storage, and ultimately achieving the goal of a “zero-carbon building.”
GAC Toyota, located in Nansha, Guangzhou, has already accomplished this goal. In 2008, GAC Toyota introduced a solar power generation system and achieved carbon neutrality for its fifth production line’s electricity in 2023, creating a green and scientifically advanced zero-carbon factory. Their solar photovoltaic systems are installed not only on factory roofs but also gradually on cafeteria roofs, employee parking lots, finished vehicle parking areas, corridors, and test tracks. “By the end of 2024, the company’s total solar photovoltaic installed capacity will reach 105MW, generating approximately 81 million kilowatt-hours of electricity, accounting for 21% of the company’s total electricity consumption,” the representative stated. GAC Toyota plans to complete the installation of solar photovoltaic panels by 2025, with total installed capacity expected to increase to 129MW and electricity generation reaching 100 million kilowatt-hours per year, accounting for 26% of total company electricity consumption.
This event also featured a signing ceremony, where Guangzhou Development New Energy Group Co., Ltd., Guangzhou Zhidu Investment Holding Group Co., Ltd., and the well-known photovoltaic component company, LONGi Green Energy Technology Co., Ltd., signed cooperation agreements on site to promote mutual advancement and collaborative development between state-owned and private enterprises. Guangzhou Development New Energy Group is the “chain leader” enterprise in Guangzhou’s new energy industry chain, primarily engaged in investment, construction, and operation of new energy projects such as photovoltaic power generation, wind power generation, electric vehicle charging, energy storage, and integrated smart energy, with total assets of 32 billion yuan and 163 wind and solar power stations.
What led to this “strong collaboration”? “This signing establishes a cooperation agreement with a total capacity of 3GW between Guangzhou Development New Energy Group and LONGi Green Energy. The two parties will jointly set up Guangzhou Suifa Longi New Energy Co., Ltd., creating an investment and operation platform for distributed photovoltaic projects in Guangzhou, focusing on related project investments to drive the development of Guangzhou’s new energy and new energy storage industries,” explained Yu Huatang, Party Secretary, Chairman, and General Manager of Guangzhou Development New Energy Group Co., Ltd. “In the future, we will join forces with more enterprises to further promote Guangzhou’s distributed photovoltaic products nationwide and internationally.”
The second cooperation agreement signed at the event involved Guangzhou Development New Energy Group, LONGi Green Energy, and Guangzhou Zhidu Investment Holding Group, a state-owned enterprise in Huadu District. The three parties aim to complete a 500 megawatt distributed photovoltaic investment cooperation within two years. Sun Bin, Senior Vice President of LONGi Green Energy, shared that the company adopts an “industry + local” model when developing distributed photovoltaic businesses, collaborating with local state-owned enterprises to develop local projects. “For example, we established a joint venture in Huadu and have nearly 1GW of distributed photovoltaic projects registered for 188 villages, benefiting local residents and empowering rural development and revitalization, contributing positively to the ‘1000 Megawatt Project’.”
