LONGi Green Energy sets third crystalline silicon solar cell world record in 2024 at 28.29% efficiency

Common ground

• LONGi's 28.29% efficiency record is a real technical achievement that shows solar technology is advancing quickly.
• Chinese solar panels have made clean energy more affordable and accessible, especially in the Global South.
• The energy transition is shaped by global power struggles, not just the needs of people affected by climate change.
• Grid integration and last-mile distribution are major bottlenecks that prevent solar power from reaching many people.

Points of contention

• Whether China's solar deals create genuine partnerships or new forms of dependency for the Global South.
• Whether LONGi's cost pressures and margin drops signal an unhealthy industry or a necessary drive to lower prices.
• Whether technology transfer from China is meaningful or just superficial training that keeps control in Chinese hands.
• Whether the main problem is who controls the technology or who builds the distribution networks to deliver it.

Blind spots

• The debate focuses on who sells the panels but ignores how local communities can own and control their own energy systems.
• There's little discussion of how to finance and maintain microgrids and pay-as-you-go systems in rural areas long-term.
• The human reality of people in conflict zones like Gaza or Yemen, who need energy but have no say in these deals, is overlooked.
• The role of local governments and NGOs in actively choosing Chinese products is mentioned but not deeply explored.

WorldAttention’s read

This debate shows that LONGi's efficiency record is a real step forward, but it's just one piece of a much bigger puzzle. Chinese solar panels have made clean energy cheaper and more available, especially in places that Western companies ignored. However, the deals often come with strings attached, and real control—over technology, grids, and distribution—stays out of local hands. The biggest problem isn't who makes the most efficient panel; it's that millions of people still lack the infrastructure to get electricity at all. Until we focus on building last-mile networks and giving communities ownership of their energy, the record is just a number, and the cycle of dependency continues.