Guangdong's "Photovoltaic + Building" pilot program enters a phase of refined control; non-compliant projects may be rectified

Recently, the Guangdong Provincial Department of Housing and Urban-Rural Development and four other departments jointly issued the "Notice on Strengthening the Control of Rural and Urban Architectural Appearance in County-Level "Photovoltaic + Building" Application Pilot Programs," putting forward stricter requirements for the appearance control of building-integrated photovoltaics (BIPV) projects. It clearly stipulates that photovoltaic facilities must organically integrate with the architectural appearance, strictly prohibiting the illegal construction of "sunrooms" and other illegal buildings under the guise of photovoltaics. The introduction of this policy signifies that Guangdong's "Photovoltaic + Building" pilot program has entered a phase of refined control.

 

Policy Core: Photovoltaic building appearance control becomes a priority

 

Strictly control planning and design, eliminate "illegal sunrooms": The new Guangdong regulations emphasize that photovoltaic building projects must follow a "plan-then-construct" approach, strictly prohibiting the illegal construction of sunrooms, fences, and other illegal structures using the space under the photovoltaic panels.

 

Distinguish key areas, balance economy and aesthetics: Pilot areas need to be divided into general and key areas to ensure that photovoltaic facilities integrate with local cultural characteristics, avoiding the "uniformity" of photovoltaic rooftops that damage the urban and rural landscape.

 

Clearly defined installation targets, 2 million kilowatts of new additions by 2026: Guangdong plans to cumulatively add at least 2 million kilowatts of "Photovoltaic + Building" installed capacity by 2026, but all projects must meet appearance control standards.

 

Why have photovoltaic sunrooms become a "key target"?

 

High risk of illegal construction: Some owners or companies, under the guise of photovoltaics, install extra-high photovoltaic panels on rooftops, effectively creating "sunrooms," encroaching on public space, and affecting building safety.

 

 

High risk of contract fraud: Some photovoltaic companies use "dual contracts" to induce farmers into equipment financing leases, increasing the economic burden on farmers and even illegally registering under the names of natural persons to obtain subsidies.

 

Poor aesthetic coordination: Traditional photovoltaic panels are directly installed on rooftops, lacking aesthetic design and being inconsistent with the architectural style, affecting the urban and rural landscape.

 

Future trends: How can photovoltaic buildings be both compliant and aesthetically pleasing?

 

BIPV (Building-Integrated Photovoltaics) becomes mainstream: Unlike the traditional "photovoltaic + rooftop" model, BIPV integrates photovoltaic components directly into the building structure (such as photovoltaic tiles, photovoltaic curtain walls), making it both aesthetically pleasing and efficient. Guangdong has launched a "Photovoltaic + Building" rural house design competition, encouraging innovation in Guangfu, Chaoshan, and Hakka-style photovoltaic buildings.

 

Policy support + financial assistance: Guangdong coordinates policy banks to provide special loans to promote the implementation of photovoltaic building pilot programs. The national level is also promoting a target of 50% photovoltaic coverage for new buildings, and the BIPV market has enormous potential.

 

Industry standards are gradually improving: Currently, the BIPV industry still lacks unified standards, but Guangdong has issued "Work Guidelines," which will be dynamically updated in the future to ensure project compliance.

 

 

How should companies and owners respond?

 

Compliant reporting: Strictly follow policy registration procedures to avoid project splitting and false reporting.

 

Choose BIPV solutions: Prioritize the use of photovoltaic tiles, curved photovoltaic components, and other products with high integration with buildings.

 

Beware of "financing lease" traps: Carefully review contracts to avoid being induced into taking on additional financial risks.

 

The introduction of Guangdong's new "Photovoltaic + Building" policy marks the transition of the photovoltaic industry from "wild growth" to "regulated development." In the future, photovoltaic buildings must not only "generate electricity" but also be "high-value." For companies, technological innovation needs to be accelerated; for owners, it is essential to comply with regulations and avoid demolition due to violations.