Elon Musk's SpaceX pursuit of space-based data centres has drawn attention to China's solar industry, sparking market rallies—and calls for caution. The discussions, which have not yet resulted in confirmed orders, triggered a rally in shares of several solar-related companies earlier this week, before sentiment cooled on Thursday.
Elon Musk's SpaceX is pushing into space computing, shining a light on China's solar supply chain. The company's interest in space-based data centres has sparked market enthusiasm but also warnings of caution.
Discussions with Chinese firms have not yet led to confirmed orders. However, they triggered a rally in shares of several solar-related companies earlier this week, before sentiment cooled on Thursday.
Companies that have publicly acknowledged contact include TCL's subsidiary Zhonghuan, a maker of photovoltaic materials and solar cells; GCL Technology, a green-energy group with research in granular silicon and perovskite technologies; and Jinko Solar, a major photovoltaic module manufacturer. Solar heavyweight Longi Green Energy Technology and solar-equipment maker Maxwell Technologies have also been widely cited in market discussions.
Jinko Solar said on Thursday that “space-based [photovoltaic technology] remains at a very early stage of technical exploration, with no clear solution, commercial projects or revenue”, warning investors of risks. Its Shanghai-listed shares fell more than 6 per cent on Thursday, snapping a two-day surge.
This development underscores China's pivotal role in the global solar supply chain, even as the technology remains in its infancy.