U.S. extends tariff exemptions for solar manufacturing equipment. China’s largest oil and gas field maintains a stable output of 60 million tons for six consecutive years
（2025/12/1—2025/12/7）
Author: Shu-Xin Zhang
International Energy News
1. U.S. extends tariff exemptions for solar manufacturing equipment
The U.S. Trade Representative (USTR) announced the extension of exemptions for certain imported equipment, including solar manufacturing equipment, from Section 301 tariffs. The exemptions for 178 items, originally set to expire on November 29, 2025, have been extended to November 10, 2026.
The USTR stated that the extension is based on the “Trade and Economic Agreement” reached between the U.S. and China on November 1, 2025. The primary reason for the extension is the continued limited availability of these devices outside China. According to the USTR, during the public discussion initiated in 2024, 147 exemptions received support for extension on the grounds that “these products remain difficult to source outside China, and more time is needed to adjust supply chains.” Another 10 exemptions faced opposition.
The exemption list covers various solar module manufacturing equipment, including: monocrystalline silicon growth furnaces, monocrystalline silicon rod slicing band saws, diamond wire cutting machines, coolant recycling equipment, photovoltaic wafer texturing, etching, polishing, and cleaning equipment, plasma-enhanced or low-pressure chemical vapor deposition equipment (for depositing amorphous or nanocrystalline layers), physical vapor deposition equipment, photovoltaic electrode screen printing lines and sintering furnaces, and polysilicon conveying and wafer handling equipment (thickness ≤200 μm).
2. India expected to add 41.5 GW of new solar capacity in fiscal year 2026
JMK Research predicts that India will add approximately 41.5 GW of new solar capacity in fiscal year 2026 (the 12 months ending March 31, 2026). This includes about 32 GW from large-scale power station projects, 8 GW from rooftop solar, and 1.5 GW from off-grid systems.
From January to September 2025, India added approximately 22.5 GW of new large-scale solar capacity, a year-on-year increase of 70.3%. During the same period, rooftop solar additions reached about 5.8 GW, representing an 81.6% year-on-year growth. JMK estimates that from October 2025 to March 2026, an additional 15.68 GW of large-scale solar projects will be connected to the grid.
3. Switzerland introduces winter power generation incentive policy, raises solar power target to 18.7 TWh by 2030
The Swiss Federal Council recently announced that, starting January 1, 2026, it will implement a “Winter Power Generation Incentive Mechanism” targeting newly built photovoltaic power stations. The policy applies to photovoltaic systems with an installed capacity of 100 kW or higher, based on their power generation during the winter period from October 1 to March 31 each year. Only stations with winter power generation exceeding 500 kWh/kW will have the excess portion considered as “surplus winter power generation” and used as the basis for incentives. The report emphasizes that this measure aims to ensure that incentives benefit only projects with winter power generation efficiency significantly higher than the average level in the Swiss Plateau region (approximately 250–300 kWh/kW). Incentives will be disbursed either as a one-time payment or spread over a 20-year compensation period, depending on whether the project adopts a floating market premium mechanism. The new policy will replace the “High-Altitude Photovoltaic Incentive Mechanism” implemented since 2023.
At the same time, the Federal Council approved new renewable energy development targets: by 2030, Switzerland’s renewable energy generation (excluding hydropower) must reach 23 TWh, with solar power accounting for 18.7 TWh; by 2035, this will increase to 35 TWh, and by 2050, to 45 TWh. According to the latest “Swiss Photovoltaic Applications National Report” released by the International Energy Agency’s Photovoltaic Power System Programme (IEA-PVPS) in October, as of the end of 2024, Switzerland’s solar power generation reached 5.96 TWh, accounting for 10.36% of the country’s total electricity consumption. The cumulative installed solar capacity reached 8.17 GW, with 1,799 MW added in 2024.
Domestic energy news
1. China’s largest oil and gas field maintains a stable output of 60 million tons for six consecutive years
On November 26, the annual oil and gas equivalent output of PetroChina Changqing Oilfield exceeded 60 million tons. Since becoming China’s first ultra-large oil and gas field with an annual output of 60 million tons in 2020, Changqing has achieved stable production and growth for six consecutive years. In 2024, its output reached a historic high, accounting for approximately one-sixth of the country’s total annual oil and gas production. The exploration and development area of Changqing spans four provinces and regions: Shaanxi, Gansu, Ningxia, and Inner Mongolia. The oil and gas reservoirs in the Ordos Basin are characterized by low pressure, low permeability, and low abundance, making development extremely challenging. Through continuous technological innovation, the oilfield has overcome the efficiency development limits of such reservoirs and established China’s first 3-million-ton shale oil production base and a 50-billion-cubic-meter natural gas region.
In terms of resource exploration, Changqing Oilfield adheres to a resource-focused approach and has formed five 1-billion-ton-scale oil-bearing areas and five trillion-cubic-meter integrated gas-bearing areas. Over the past three years, its newly proven reserves accounted for nearly 30% of the national total. Meanwhile, in response to the “dual carbon” goals, Changqing is fostering new productive forces and actively participating in the construction of multi-energy complementary new energy bases. To date, it has built 2,780 photovoltaic power stations, with cumulative power generation exceeding 1 billion kilowatt-hours. As a critical national energy base, its annual natural gas output has remained stable at over 50 billion cubic meters since 2022, accounting for 50% of the total gas transmission volume of the West-to-East Gas Pipeline. This robustly supports the gas demand of over 50 large and medium-sized cities, including Beijing-Tianjin-Hebei and Shaanxi-Gansu-Ningxia, providing a solid foundation for national energy security and green transition.
2. China’s first green LNG refueling operation completed in Dalian, Liaoning
Sinopec & CSSC Marine Fuel Supply Co., Ltd. held a press conference in Dalian, Liaoning, on December 3, announcing the successful completion of China’s first green LNG (liquefied natural gas) refueling operation at the Xizhong Island Terminal in Dalian.
LNG is widely recognized as a safe, efficient, and economical clean energy source. Green LNG, a low-carbon or zero-carbon version of traditional LNG, derives its “green” attributes primarily from the use of renewable energy or carbon offset technologies during production to reduce greenhouse gas emissions throughout its lifecycle.
According to relevant personnel, the vessel involved in this refueling operation, the “Xingshengyuan” of Dalian Haineng, is a 2G semi-refrigerated and semi-pressurized LNG dual-fuel gas carrier. It is highly functional and professional, capable of flexibly meeting diverse customer transportation needs. The green LNG used in this refueling operation was produced by liquefying biomethane generated from organic waste fermentation. It can directly replace conventional LNG without modifying existing LNG engines, achieving a greenhouse gas emission reduction rate of over 80% throughout its lifecycle. This aligns precisely with international trends in shipping decarbonization and environmental regulations.
3. China’s first offshore gas storage facility begins supplying gas to the warm Beijing-Tianjin-Hebei region
Recently, China’s first offshore gas storage facility—the Nanpu No. 1 Gas Storage Facility of Jidong Oilfield—commenced its gas extraction cycle for this season, starting to supply gas to the Beijing-Tianjin-Hebei region.
The Nanpu No. 1 Gas Storage Facility primarily undertakes seasonal and emergency peak-shaving tasks for the Beijing-Tianjin-Hebei region. To ensure sufficient natural gas supply for the winter, Jidong Oilfield deepened its research on multi-cycle injection and extraction patterns during this year’s gas injection phase, completing the annual gas injection tasks and laying a solid foundation for gas extraction.
To guarantee a stable natural gas supply for the upcoming winter and spring, Jidong Oilfield proactively planned and efficiently advanced preparations for the transition between gas injection and extraction. It completed testing, equipment maintenance, and other tasks ahead of schedule. Moving forward, the Nanpu No. 1 Gas Storage Facility will implement measures such as “tailored strategies for individual wells, efficient gas extraction, and precise peak-shaving,” scientifically assess well production capacities, optimize extraction plans, and ensure that daily and seasonal gas extraction volumes proceed as planned. This will further secure a stable winter natural gas supply for the Beijing-Tianjin-Hebei region.
(Main news sources: CCTVNEWS APP, Xinhua New Media, International Energy Network, China Energy Network, National Energy Administration, pv magazine)
