Global PV Industry Leaders’ Dialogue | Wang Weifeng: In the era of grid parity, innovative “PV+” models are driving enhanced overall benefits.

The annual “13th (2019) International Solar Photovoltaic and Smart Energy Forum (Shanghai)” was grandly held in Shanghai on June 3. At the opening ceremony, leaders from relevant government departments, renowned industry experts, scholars, business leaders, corporate executives, as well as heads of trade associations from Europe, Asia, North America, and other regions gathered together, ensuring that this would be a highly professional and internationally oriented industry event.

Zhong Jun, Vice Chairman of the China Energy Research Association; Gan Pin, Deputy Director of the Shanghai Municipal Science and Technology Commission; Shi Dinghuan, Honorary Chairman of this conference, former Counselor to the State Council, and former Secretary-General of the Ministry of Science and Technology; and Li Junfeng, the inaugural Director of the National Center for Climate Change Strategy and International Cooperation, Director of its Academic Committee, and Chairperson of the Renewable Energy Professional Committee of the China Energy Research Association, among other distinguished guests, attended the opening ceremony.

As the most high-profile session of the opening day, leading executives from numerous major companies in the industry gathered for the Global Green Energy Leaders’ Dialogue, jointly exploring pathways to new energy and sharing insightful perspectives on the development of the photovoltaic industry. Wang Weifeng, President of Zhongli Group Co., Ltd., attended by invitation and delivered a speech.

Wang Weifeng believes that the advent of grid parity for China’s photovoltaic industry will further accelerate technological advancement, bolstering PV’s competitiveness. As technology and costs continue to decline, innovative PV business models are proliferating, and diverse “PV+” applications are steadily expanding the sector’s scope. Since 2011, Talesun Photovoltaic has been engaged in the investment, development, and construction of solar power plants. In 2015, it heeded the national call and committed itself to poverty alleviation efforts, investing in and building “photovoltaic farms in impoverished villages” across the country.

He called for photovoltaic companies to intensify innovation in the “PV+” sector as the era of grid parity approaches. Talesun Photovoltaics has pioneered an agrivoltaic model—“Smart PV + Tech‑Driven Agriculture”—which boosts land-use efficiency, integrates large‑scale agriculture with solar power, generates additional non‑electricity revenues for solar farms, and delivers synergistic benefits, thereby serving as an effective pathway to accelerate grid parity. In the first batch of grid‑parity PV projects launched in 2019, “PV+” had already become the mainstream approach.

Wang Weifeng stated that the drivers behind the large-scale expansion of photovoltaics stem not only from addressing environmental challenges such as climate change, but also from growing electricity demand and advances in PV technology itself. At present, China’s per capita electricity consumption still lags significantly behind that of developed countries. Although the growth rate of electricity demand slowed in 2019, in the long term, sustained economic growth will keep power consumption robust, creating substantial room for PV development. As an industry, photovoltaics derives its value and competitiveness from market demand and competitive dynamics; energy transition is a major trend in human development. The continued relevance of conventional energy sources depends on factors such as reserves, environmental impact, and cost‑effectiveness. For photovoltaics, with the advent of grid parity, its distinctive competitive advantages, rapid technological progress, and improving economics are increasingly positioning it as a key force in driving the energy transition, ensuring energy security, and meeting rising electricity demand.

That evening, Talesun Photovoltaic also received the “Industry Contribution Award” and the “Photovoltaic Application Award” from the Asian Photovoltaic Industry Association. Established by the association, the “Asian Photovoltaic Awards” recognize organizations and individuals who have made outstanding contributions to capacity expansion and innovation in the photovoltaic sector, spanning the power industry, the PV field, and the areas of energy efficiency, clean energy, and renewable energy. The Industry Contribution Award, in particular, honors photovoltaic companies and industry leaders that have spearheaded advancements in the sector, delivered exceptional annual performance, and played a pivotal role throughout the PV value chain.