Three technologies were unveiled at the 2026 China Silicon Industry Conference and Seminar on High-Quality Development through Solar-Storage Integration in Baotou city, North China's Inner Mongolia autonomous region, on Oct 10.

The conference featured a heat storage system using magnesium-rare earth hydrogen-storage alloys developed by Inner Mongolia University of Science and Technology, a high-purity quartz sand production technology from Kunming University of Science and Technology, and a supercritical carbon dioxide energy storage and power generation technology from CNNC Super Carbon.

Hosted by the China Nonferrous Metals Industry Association, the conference brought together more than 400 industry representatives and experts to discuss high-quality development through solar-storage integration and explore new growth opportunities for China's silicon industry.

Lin Ruhai, deputy secretary-general of the association, said China's crystalline silicon photovoltaic industry is at a critical stage of structural transformation and efficiency improvement, making technological innovation essential to overcome development bottlenecks.

Baotou has become a major hub for China's crystalline silicon photovoltaic industry, with the sector's output value exceeding 100 billion yuan ($14.93 billion). Leading companies, including Tongwei, JA Solar, and Risen Energy, have established operations in the city, where local suppliers provide more than 65 percent of supporting products. In 2023, Baotou was named the "World Green Silicon Capital" by the Global Green Energy Council.

The city is accelerating integration across the silicon, solar, energy storage, and wind power supply chains. It has approved 4.4 million kilowatts of total energy storage capacity and is advancing national-level pilot programs in zero-carbon industrial parks, new power systems, and hydrogen energy to support its green industrial transition.