LONGi: half its solar modules go overseas, and BC technology becomes the new standard

隆基绿能 / LONGi Green Energy — the world's largest solar wafer manufacturer according to Wood Mackenzie's 2026 ranking — plans to ship roughly 100 GW of wafers and about 80 GW of finished modules for all of 2026, with overseas shipments accounting for more than half that volume. The company's Q1 2026 revenue reached RMB 11.19 billion amid an accelerating strategy of integrating solar generation with energy storage.

A bet on technology, not just scale

The company's key technological direction is back-contact (BC) modules, where contacts are moved to the panel's rear side, boosting efficiency by eliminating front-side conductor shading. LONGi forecasts BC modules will exceed 65% of total shipments in 2026, with cumulative shipments of this product surpassing 100 GW by year-end — not a niche technology for select projects, but a standard becoming mainstream across the company's entire lineup.

Where the shipments go

Recent overseas orders include a 71 MW module supply contract in Italy, along with an announcement that shipments of modules using the company's proprietary ACM technology exceeded 500 MW as of August 7. A separate growth area is energy storage systems: the 2026 plan calls for 6 GWh, focused on China, Europe, Australia, and US markets.

Context: fierce competition inside China

Growing overseas shipments come against a backdrop of domestic price pressure — some estimates suggest LONGi could post a first-half 2026 loss of up to RMB 3.8 billion as the industry shifts to new national standards and absorbs the costs of scaling BC technology. It's a telling example of how even a global segment leader must simultaneously invest in technological transformation and fight a price war in a saturated home market — which is exactly why exports have become not just an additional sales channel but a strategic priority.

More on China's solar energy sector is covered in the green technology and energy program; the company's card is available on the GlobalTechTour site.