Dear Light and Heat People：

This is a letter to you, and also a personal monologue from our editors. Our intention is to make everyone understand why we do not and cannot be pessimistic about the solar thermal utilization industry.

Because this is an industry we've nurtured with our blood and sweat.

An article has been circulating widely on social media these past two days: "Why is the Solar Thermal Utilization Industry on the Verge of Collapse?" It has caused quite a stir, with many WeChat users sharing it, expressing their feelings or reflecting on the situation. I believe that expressing feelings is understandable, and reflecting is even more so, but we cannot stand idly by or blindly follow the pessimistic narrative. This is an industry we have nurtured with our own blood and sweat for over thirty years. We can encourage others, but we must never diminish our own prestige. If we lose confidence in ourselves, how can we talk about enterprise development, or the future of the industry?

This doesn't mean we should deny the existence of problems: the technology for hot water applications has low barriers to entry, products are highly homogenized, and unfair competition through low-quality, low-price sales is widespread (isn't the home appliance industry the same?). Furthermore, data shows that the solar thermal utilization industry has indeed declined significantly compared to the rapid growth of previous years. But who can say that the rapid development of the past few years was entirely beneficial to the solar thermal utilization industry, while the current downturn is entirely detrimental?

An article titled "The Greater the Economic Downturn, the Greater the Opportunity" once stated, "For business development, whether the economy is recovering or in recession doesn't really matter much. In fact, the greater the economic downturn, the greater the opportunity for business development; there's no such thing as 'coping'." The more difficult the times, the greater the opportunities for great achievements. A good company, or even an industry, doesn't need a trend; regardless of whether there's a trend, they can spread their wings and soar through the blue sky. Because they are "eagles," not "pigs." The solar thermal utilization industry, as a clean energy industry that benefits future generations, is like an eagle. Its current downturn should simply be a period of reflection and transformation; it will always soar through the skies in the future.

Because we still have more development and opportunities.

The National 13th Five-Year Plan for Solar Energy Development points out the need to consolidate and expand the solar water heating market, promote large-scale applications in heating and industrial/agricultural heat supply, and expand into emerging markets such as cooling and seasonal thermal storage, forming a diversified market expansion pattern. Indeed, the current state of the solar thermal utilization industry is moving in these directions. Many innovative technologies, such as solar heating, drying, and industrial/agricultural applications, have been launched and gained widespread user recognition, gradually gaining momentum for widespread adoption.

The development of clean energy heating is booming, with continuous policy initiatives from the national and local governments, presenting a significant opportunity for solar heating. In agricultural drying, the National Development and Reform Commission, the Ministry of Agriculture, and the Ministry of Finance jointly issued the "Guiding Opinions on Accelerating the Development of Agricultural Productive Services" (hereinafter referred to as the "Opinions"), encouraging the promotion of efficient, energy-saving, and environmentally friendly solar drying and heat pump drying technologies and equipment in suitable areas, and the construction of regional intelligent large-scale drying centers—another excellent opportunity for solar drying. Regarding medium- and high-temperature utilization, Shandong Province has launched the "Industrial Green Power" plan, among others. Faced with these excellent opportunities, why do some in the solar thermal industry still occasionally predict its decline, even though it is a national strategic emerging industry? In other words, instead of wasting time on pessimism, they should focus their energy on researching market demand, innovating technologies, and seizing new development opportunities!

Because we have so much more to do.

Innovation. Only innovation can break the current severe homogenization problem in the solar thermal utilization industry. However, "innovation is not imitation" (as stated by Zhang Xiaoli, Executive Chairman of the China Solar Thermal Utilization Industry Alliance). Blindly imitating will only exacerbate homogenization.

Optimize technology. The development goals of multiple market sectors require continuous upgrading of solar thermal utilization technologies, including solar heating and medium-to-high temperature utilization, in order to maximize the value of solar thermal utilization.

To curb low prices and establish an orderly competition mechanism, the China Solar Thermal Utilization Industry Alliance is building a corporate integrity system to ensure the survival of trustworthy and high-quality enterprises, making quality the dominant factor in market development.

In short, for us in the solar thermal industry, we must recognize both the current shortcomings and future opportunities. What we need to do now is strive to seize, cultivate, and lead the new market opportunities of this new era, rather than wallowing in self-pity and clinging to so-called data. After all, only through hard work can we change reality and help businesses and the industry develop better!

Finally, I wish that our green and clean solar thermal industry, like the sun, will shine on every corner of the world and illuminate everyone's heart!
Source：Editorial Department of "China Solar Energy Industry Information"