Chinese Solar Manufacturers Expand Into Battery Storage As Panel Growth Slows
China’s leading solar panel manufacturers are rapidly expanding their energy storage businesses as slowing photovoltaic (PV) demand and shrinking profit margins push the industry to seek new growth opportunities. Companies are increasingly betting on battery storage, which offers higher margins and growing global demand as countries expand renewable energy capacity and reduce dependence on fossil fuels.
The solar sector has faced mounting challenges, including weaker domestic installations, slower export growth and persistently low panel prices. Industry executives also expect global solar demand growth to weaken in 2026, prompting companies to diversify beyond traditional PV products.
Solar Giants Increase Battery Investments
Major manufacturers including JinkoSolar, JA Solar, LONGi Green Energy and Trina Solar are accelerating investments in battery storage technologies.
At the SNEC solar industry exhibition, attended by more than half a million participants, JinkoSolar revealed plans to almost triple its battery manufacturing capacity from 5 gigawatt-hours (GWh) to between 13 and 14 GWh by the end of the year.
According to company representatives, demand for energy storage continues to rise as developers seek solutions to manage the intermittent nature of renewable power generation. Battery systems help store excess electricity generated by solar and wind facilities, allowing energy to be used when production falls.
JinkoSolar executive Titus Koech said the company’s leadership remains committed to significant investment in storage technologies, reflecting confidence in the sector’s long-term growth prospects.
Global Demand Supports Expansion
Several countries with high levels of renewable energy adoption have emerged as major buyers of Chinese battery storage products. Markets including Japan, Vietnam, India, Germany, the Netherlands, the United States and Australia ranked among the largest importers of Chinese batteries during 2025, according to energy think tank Ember.
At JA Solar’s exhibition stand, energy storage products occupied the central display area, signalling a strategic shift from previous events where solar panels dominated presentations.
Gloria Gao, marketing director of JA Solar’s storage division, said relying solely on solar products no longer provides sufficient growth opportunities because margins remain extremely thin. She added that the company sees energy storage as a key driver of future expansion.
Data from Ember showed that solar panel exports increased by just 4.7% in 2025, marking the slowest growth rate since 2018. Analysts expect export growth in the second half of the year to remain weaker than during the opening months.
Meanwhile, Rystad Energy forecasts that battery exports for energy storage will surge by 30% to reach 150 GWh in 2026.
Integrated Solutions Gain Momentum
China’s solar manufacturers are entering a market already led by battery industry giants CATL and BYD. However, they believe their expertise in solar supply chains and integrated renewable energy systems will provide a competitive advantage.
Industry participants increasingly view solar-plus-storage packages as a more attractive offering for customers seeking comprehensive renewable energy solutions.
A Trina Solar official described energy storage as the company’s “second growth curve” after photovoltaics. The company’s storage shipments during the first quarter, most of which were exported, increased more than fourfold compared with the same period a year earlier.
LONGi also highlighted its integrated solar-and-storage strategy at SNEC, dedicating a major portion of its exhibition space to showcasing combined energy solutions rather than standalone solar products.
Storage Becomes Essential To Renewable Projects
Industry analysts believe customer preferences are driving the shift towards integrated offerings.
Wood Mackenzie’s head of solar supply chain research, Yana Hryshko, said buyers increasingly prefer sourcing both solar generation and energy storage systems from the same supplier because these investments typically involve long-term partnerships spanning decades.
As renewable energy deployment accelerates worldwide, the combination of solar generation and battery storage is becoming increasingly interconnected. Industry experts expect storage to become a standard component of renewable energy projects, transforming how solar manufacturers position themselves in the global market.
With inputs from Reuters
