BIPV (Building-Integrated Photovoltaics) Metal Roofing under Favorable Policies: New Opportunities and Practical Paths for Industry Development in 2025

In 2024, the energy industry achieved remarkable results in promoting the implementation of major national strategies and strengthening safety capabilities in key areas. From the stable supply of traditional energy to the booming rise of new energy; from the strengthening of energy infrastructure construction to the optimization of national power flow distribution, the concept of green and low-carbon development is increasingly deeply rooted in the hearts of the people, and the energy structure continues to be optimized and upgraded.

 

This year marks the closing year of the "14th Five-Year Plan," and the direction of the energy industry is attracting much attention at the National People's Congress (NPC) and the Chinese People's Political Consultative Conference (CPPCC). Representatives and committee members held heated discussions on topics such as accelerating the development of a green and low-carbon economy and steadily advancing carbon peaking and carbon neutrality. On the afternoon of May 5th, Xi Jinping, General Secretary of the Central Committee of the Communist Party of China, President of the People's Republic of China, and Chairman of the Central Military Commission, participated in the deliberation of the Jiangsu delegation at the Third Session of the 14th National People's Congress and pointed out that technological innovation and industrial innovation are the fundamental paths to developing high-quality productivity. In grasping technological innovation, we must focus on the construction of a modernized industrial system, adhere to the coordinated efforts of education, science and technology, and talent, producing more scientific and technological achievements and transforming them into actual productivity. In grasping industrial innovation, we must uphold the foundation of the real economy, taking into account both the transformation and upgrading of traditional industries and the opening up of new tracks for strategic emerging industries and future industries. To achieve the seamless integration of technological innovation and industrial innovation, platforms need to be built, and systems and mechanisms need to be improved to strengthen the status of enterprises as the main body of innovation, achieving seamless integration of the innovation chain and the industrial chain. To lay a solid foundation for a good start to the "15th Five-Year Plan," the energy industry is striding into a new stage of high-quality development. Reporters from China Energy News will take you to the scene of the two sessions to listen to the strongest voices in the energy field.

I. National Strategic Direction: Restructuring the Energy Structure under the Dual Carbon Goals

 

At the beginning of 2025, the National Development and Reform Commission and the National Energy Administration jointly issued the "Guiding Opinions on Energy Work in 2025," clarifying that the total installed capacity of power generation nationwide will exceed 3.6 billion kilowatts, with new energy installations exceeding 200 million kilowatts. Behind this goal is the deepening implementation of the country's "dual carbon" strategy—new energy power generation will fully participate in market transactions, and distributed energy will become the core carrier of the rural energy revolution. The No. 1 Central Document issued at the same time particularly emphasizes the need to "consolidate rural power security and encourage the development of distributed renewable energy," providing a policy foundation for the penetration of BIPV (Building-Integrated Photovoltaics) metal roofing in county-level markets.

 

At the national level, the top-level design of energy transformation is shifting from "scale expansion" to "quality optimization." The "Guiding Opinions on Renewable Energy Substitution Action" jointly issued by six ministries in 2024 has proposed that "newly built factories and public buildings should install photovoltaics as much as possible." In 2025, this requirement is further refined: the National Energy Administration has added "building adaptability" review to photovoltaic project management, requiring BIPV projects to meet building safety standards such as waterproofing, load-bearing, and fire prevention, while encouraging the priority use of BIPV technology in industrial buildings such as metal roofs. This means that the traditional photovoltaic installation model is accelerating its upgrade to the "building component level," and enterprises with building-integrated design capabilities are facing a test of core competitiveness.

II. Precise Implementation of Local Policies: From Indicator Management to Scenario Innovation

 

In February 2025, 20 provinces and cities across the country issued 34 photovoltaic policies, with a significant increase in the proportion of BIPV special policies. Ningbo, Zhejiang's "Three-Year Action Plan for Rooftop Photovoltaics in the Construction Field (2025-2027)" is particularly prominent: it plans to add 4 million kilowatts of rooftop photovoltaics, clarifying that "the photovoltaic coverage rate of newly built industrial plants should not be less than 50%" and including metal roof BIPV as an additional point in green building evaluations. This policy directly responds to the needs of the densely populated manufacturing areas in the Yangtze River Delta—the metal roofs of industrial plants have natural adaptability advantages, with an average installable capacity of 2-5 megawatts per plant, and short transformation cycles and stable power generation efficiency.

 

The structural adjustment of subsidy policies is also noteworthy. Beijing's new policy in 2025 links BIPV subsidies to the degree of building integration: projects where photovoltaic components are used as the main building components will have a subsidy rate increased to 30% (traditional photovoltaics are only 15%); Zhejiang, Guangdong, and other places are exploring a combination of "per-kilowatt-hour subsidies + floor area ratio rewards." For example, Longgang District, Shenzhen, provides a subsidy of 0.3 yuan/kWh for BIPV projects and allows a 2% increase in the floor area ratio. This "policy + market" incentive mechanism is reshaping the development logic of industrial and commercial rooftops—metal roof BIPV is not only an energy facility but also an important means of enhancing the value of building assets.

 

The decentralization of management authority by local governments has also unleashed market vitality. Inner Mongolia has decentralized the approval authority for distributed photovoltaic projects to leagues and cities, simplifying land and environmental impact assessment procedures; Shaanxi has carried out "special rectification of administrative intervention in photovoltaic projects," focusing on cracking down on behaviors such as "mandatory industrial supporting" and "designated equipment suppliers." These measures directly reduce the entry barriers for small and medium-sized enterprises, especially benefiting BIPV construction enterprises that focus on county-level markets—taking Changzhou, Jiangsu as an example, in 2024, 80% of metal roof renovations in integrated photovoltaic and storage projects were undertaken by local enterprises, with the average project cycle shortened to 45 days.

III. Structural Outbreak of Market Demand: From "Whether It Can Be Installed" to "How to Install It Well"

 

Driven by policies, the BIPV market is undergoing a qualitative change from "policy-driven" to "demand-driven." In February 2025, photovoltaic construction indicators released by Ningxia, Liaoning, and other places showed that the proportion of distributed projects has exceeded 60%, with industrial plant rooftops (especially metal roofs) becoming a focal point of competition. Data shows that among the existing industrial plants nationwide, about 35% of metal roofs have the conditions for renovation, with a potential installed capacity exceeding 120 million kilowatts. For new plants, Shanghai, Shandong, and other places have included BIPV in land transfer conditions—for example, Jinan requires that "new industrial plants reserve 100% of the conditions for photovoltaic installation." Metal roofs, due to their high standardization and strong adaptability, have become the preferred solution for new projects.

 

The upgrading of market demand is reflected in three dimensions: First, functional integration; enterprises require that BIPV systems not only generate electricity but also take into account waterproofing (such as using TPO composite photovoltaic panels), heat insulation (airflow design), and load-bearing (meeting a 50-year structural life); second, scene customization; the Guangdong manufacturing cluster has introduced an integrated "photovoltaic carport + roof + charging pile" solution, and Ningbo, Zhejiang has piloted a "photovoltaic plant roof + carbon asset trading" model; finally, aesthetic design; the color and style of color steel plate photovoltaic components can be customized to match the overall image of the park, such as a certain electronics factory in Suzhou using a gradient blue photovoltaic roof, becoming a regional green landmark.

 

Technical barriers for construction enterprises are forming. Taking metal roof BIPV as an example, three core issues need to be addressed: First, structural safety; dynamic load simulation (such as wind uplift tests in typhoon areas) is required; second, waterproof sealing; using "same-life bonding technology" for photovoltaic panels and roof panels to avoid water leakage problems from traditional bolt holes; third, convenient maintenance; developing modular maintenance channels to reduce maintenance costs by more than 30% over 20 years. These technological breakthroughs have reduced the per-kilowatt-hour cost of metal roof BIPV to below 0.35 yuan, approaching the benchmark electricity price of thermal power.

IV. Enterprise Breakthrough Paths under Policy Dividends

 

Facing a trillion-dollar market, photovoltaic metal roofing construction companies need to seize three major opportunities during the policy window period:

 

1. Deep Layout of County-Level Markets
The No. 1 Central Document of 2025 clearly states the transition of "whole-county photovoltaic" to "high-quality development." Locations such as Cili County in Hunan have piloted "public rooftop centralized development," resolving the problem of dispersed property rights through government endorsement. Construction companies can cooperate with local urban investment companies, using the "EPC+O" model (design-construction-operation and maintenance) to secure 20 years of operation and maintenance income. For example, a company in Henan has promoted the "photovoltaic + rural revitalization" model in counties, linking the renovation of village rooftops with collective economic benefits, with a single county signing exceeding 50 megawatts.

 

2. Deepening the Value of Industrial Scenarios
Targeting the "green electricity demand" of manufacturing provinces, an integrated solution of "BIPV + energy storage + green certificate trading" can be provided. Practice in Changzhou, Jiangsu, shows that metal roof BIPV combined with industrial and commercial energy storage can reduce the company's electricity price by 0.2 yuan/degree, while also generating additional income through green electricity trading. Construction companies need to strengthen cooperation with industrial real estate developers and park management committees, upgrading from a single contractor to an energy management service provider.

 

3. Technological Standards Leading the Market
With the implementation of the "Building-Integrated Photovoltaic Technology Standard" (2025 version), companies need to accelerate technological iteration. For example, developing "photovoltaic-building-structure" integrated design software to enable BIM models to directly generate construction drawings; participating in the formulation of local standards, such as Zhejiang's "Metal Roof BIPV Construction Acceptance Specifications," which will become an important threshold for market access.

V. Challenges and Responses: The Last Mile of Policy Implementation

 

Despite frequent favorable policy winds, the industry still faces real challenges: firstly, the fragmentation of rooftop property rights, especially the "one factory, multiple owners" phenomenon in old factories, requires innovative property integration models; secondly, high financing costs, with an average financing interest rate of 5%-7% for distributed projects, requires exploring the "green credit + future income right pledge" model; thirdly, a shortage of talent, with a 40% shortage of compound technical personnel, requires companies to strengthen school-enterprise cooperation and establish a "construction worker + architect" dual-certification training system.

 

In March 2025, the National Energy Administration launched the "Photovoltaic Construction Standardization Year," focusing on rectifying "fake BIPV" projects (such as components with empty frames on the roof rather than integrated). This means that the industry will shift from a "scale competition" to a "quality competition." For construction companies focusing on metal roof BIPV, only by approaching photovoltaics with a building mindset and controlling quality with industrial standards can they stand firm in the face of major policy changes—after all, when roofs become energy production units, every photovoltaic panel must withstand 20 years of sun and rain, and even more importantly, withstand the double test of policy and market.

 

 

 

Promoting the green and intelligent development of the energy industry, the private economy is an important force. This year's Government Work Report proposes effectively stimulating the vitality of various business entities. We need to earnestly implement policies to promote the development of the private economy, effectively protect the legitimate rights and interests of private enterprises and entrepreneurs, and encourage qualified private enterprises to establish and improve a modern enterprise system with Chinese characteristics.

 

Private enterprises play a significant role in the development of the energy industry, not only driving economic development and enhancing market vitality but also promoting the research and development and application of innovative technologies, improving the overall competitiveness of the industry, and being an important participant in the global market. In 2024, Chinese photovoltaic enterprises occupied all ten seats among the top ten global photovoltaic component shippers. Many fields, such as "new three items" and energy equipment manufacturing, also depend on private enterprises. Private enterprises account for about 60% of wind turbine manufacturers, and over 80% of large-scale operators in various charging service fields are private enterprises.

 

Jiang Yaodong stated that in this key area of the energy industry, the strength of the private economy cannot be ignored. It has made contributions in technological innovation, market development, and job creation, becoming a powerful engine driving the rapid development of the energy industry.

 

Zhou Shanghong, a national NPC deputy, Party secretary, and chairman of Jiangsu Wanshun Electromechanical Group, stated that the private economy has contributed more than 50% of Jiangsu's GDP, 60% of its taxes, 70% of its enterprise R&D investment and social fixed capital, 80% of its new jobs, and 90% of its high-tech output value. The private economy has become an important force in driving the development of new high-quality productivity in Jiangsu.

 

In the future, private enterprises in the energy sector will continue to "cultivate their internal strengths" and continuously improve their quality and competitiveness. Li Dongsheng pointed out that the Government Work Report has boosted the development confidence of private enterprises and inspired the fighting spirit of private entrepreneurs. "As a private technology manufacturing enterprise, we will continue to maintain our development confidence, enhance our core capabilities, and deepen our development in high-tech, capital-intensive, and long-cycle strategic emerging industries, enhancing the voice of Chinese enterprises in the global industrial chain and supply chain, and contributing to high-quality development of the Chinese economy."

 

Zhang Tianren stated, "The state protects the property rights of private enterprises and the rights and interests of entrepreneurs in accordance with the law, supports and encourages the development of the private economy and the growth of private enterprises, creates a good environment for all types of enterprises to compete fairly and develop competitively, and uses real measures to boost market expectations and confidence. In the future, we will have more confidence and determination in developing the economy."

 

Jiang Yaodong said that private enterprises must dare to innovate, because innovation is the primary driving force for development. We must strengthen cooperation, as a clenched fist is stronger. In the future, the private economy will continue to play a role in energy transformation and industrial upgrading, taking large strides into the investment and construction of new energy projects, like brave explorers, constantly discovering new markets, promoting innovation and application of energy technology, actively participating in carbon emission rights and energy use rights trading markets, injecting continuous new vitality into the energy industry, and adding a rich and colorful stroke to China's energy industry landscape.

 

The "Notice on Doing a Good Job in Key Cost Reduction Work in 2024" jointly issued by the National Development and Reform Commission and three other departments proposes creating a fair competitive market environment, formulating opinions on improving market access systems, revising the new version of the negative list for market access, and promoting full coverage of market access efficiency evaluations. This provides a good market environment foundation for private enterprises to fairly participate in market competition and stimulate vitality in the energy industry.

 

With the spring breeze blowing, all things are reborn. Amid the enthusiastic discussions of deputies and committee members, the future development blueprint of China's energy industry is gradually becoming clearer, and a picture of green, intelligent, and efficient development is gradually unfolding. In the last year of the "14th Five-Year Plan," energy will continue to play a vital role in the national economy and social development, and will contribute to the comprehensive green transformation of social development while ensuring safe supply and contributing to the achievement of carbon peak and carbon neutrality.