Industry shifts are quietly unfolding, with 2026 marking a pivotal year for governance in the solar sector and the beginning of an industry-wide ecological migration and value realignment.
Firstly, the transition is from standalone power generation to integrated solar-plus-storage, with the silicon-lithium-carbon triad forming the efficient foundation for a new composite industry. Securing a key position within this "material triangle" establishes a first-mover advantage in the realms of power batteries and traction batteries, effectively defining the physical form and securing a strategic position within the next-generation energy system encompassing generation, storage, and consumption.
Secondly, as solar power becomes a ubiquitous energy carrier, the conventional concept of a standalone solar manufacturing enterprise is likely to gradually diminish.
When solar technology is deeply integrated into countless industries and scenarios—such as construction, transportation, industry, agriculture, and computing—it transforms into a new type of infrastructure applicable across its entire lifecycle and in all contexts. Consequently, the notion of a company solely focused on solar manufacturing may fade, with the manufacturing and energy attributes of solar separating to form distinctly different business models.
In the current industry-wide competition and consolidation, companies that successfully navigate cyclical challenges and structural adjustments are poised to evolve. They will transform into digital energy asset operators, zero-carbon solution providers, and AI-powered energy technology service providers, emerging in new forms on the digital economy stage.
Under full market participation, electricity is being restored to its status as a commodity, and the environmental attributes of new energy sources like solar are being formalized as property rights. This shift in industrial value logic means electricity is a product, green credentials are assets, and carbon represents a quantifiable responsibility. The revenue structure of new energy is becoming layered, with the full value of electricity, data, and services derived throughout the lifecycle being monetized.
In parallel, the regulation and supply guarantee services provided by coal power must also be clearly priced to reflect their multifaceted service value. As a stabilizing "ballast" and "regulator," coal power offers crucial temporal buffering and physical support for systems with high renewable penetration, highlighting the value of its power services.
There is a call for the national acceleration and full, precise implementation of a coal power capacity pricing mechanism. This would address the shortcomings of the traditional energy-only pricing model, ensuring all energy resources can coexist and complement each other while receiving fair returns, ultimately fostering a healthy market ecosystem compatible with the new energy system.
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