Key facts
- China's major solar panel manufacturers are increasing battery exports.
- This pivot aims to boost revenue as photovoltaic sales growth slows.
- Companies like JinkoSolar, JA Solar, LONGi Green Energy, and Trina Solar are expanding into battery storage.
- The move addresses renewable energy intermittency.
- Executives anticipate a global demand decline for solar panels in 2026.
China's major solar panel manufacturers are increasing their focus on higher-margin battery exports to bolster revenue amidst slowing growth in photovoltaic (PV) sales. Companies such as JinkoSolar, JA Solar, LONGi Green Energy, and Trina Solar are accelerating their investments in battery storage solutions. This strategic shift is driven by the need to address the intermittency of renewable energy sources and capitalize on anticipated growth in the energy storage market. Executives project a global decline in solar panel demand by 2026. JinkoSolar, for instance, plans to nearly triple its battery manufacturing capacity to 13-14 GWh by the end of 2026. JA Solar's marketing director noted that the energy storage business is crucial for growth due to the small margins in solar alone. While solar panel exports grew by 4.7% in 2025, the slowest pace since 2018, battery exports for energy storage are forecast to jump 30% to 150 GWh in 2026. These Chinese solar manufacturers are entering a competitive market dominated by battery giants like CATL and BYD, leveraging their supply-chain expertise and offering integrated solar-plus-storage solutions. Trina Solar views energy storage as a "second growth curve" after photovoltaics, with its energy storage shipments quadrupling year-on-year in the first quarter. CATL expects energy storage to constitute half of its global sales by 2030. The trend reflects a shift in buying patterns, with integrated solar and storage solutions becoming increasingly important. JA ESS has launched its JAPlanet Fusion, a 125kW/261kWh commercial and industrial (C&I) hybrid solar-plus-storage system designed for factories, industrial parks, commercial facilities, public infrastructure, and EV charging stations.