Chinese solar makers post widening losses as DER study cites $614B savings

· Energy · China · United States

Chinese solar manufacturers JA Solar, Longi and Tongwei reported widening net losses for the first nine months of 2026, with revenue falling 23.62%, 13.85% and 9.69% year on year, respectively, according to pv magazine. The results underscore the prolonged margin pressure across the PV manufacturing chain. In the US, a new Brattle Group analysis found distributed energy resources could avoid $614 billion in US power system costs and eliminate the need for 70 GW of new natural gas capacity through 2050. The two data points frame the sector's split: module makers squeezed by oversupply, while distributed generation is pitched as a cheaper alternative to building new gas plants.

Why it matters：Persistent losses at top Chinese module makers and the case for distributed resources both signal pressure on the economics of centralized generation and PV manufacturing.

Key points

  • JA, Longi and Tongwei revenue fell 23.62%, 13.85% and 9.69% year on year.
  • Brattle sees DER avoiding 70 GW of new gas capacity through 2050.

Sources (original reporting)

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