The oldest PV module, now 34 years old, is still generating power—yet the initial 10-kW solar system produces only 7 kW after 32 years.

Photovoltaic power generation began gaining traction in the 1950s, but it wasn’t until the early 1980s that ordinary Chinese citizens started treating it as a legitimate source of electricity for their daily lives. Back then, the Gansu Academy of Sciences was already working to bring benefits to people living in regions like Tibet, where access to electricity was limited. The first large-scale photovoltaic power station was built in 1983, with an initial capacity of 10 kW.
As the saying goes, "Good news travels fast." In China, where the photovoltaic industry is booming, everyone—especially our partners across the board—is deeply curious about one critical question: Can this compact little structure, with its glass and backsheet sandwiching the solar cells, truly withstand 25 years of relentless exposure to sun, wind, and rain? Naturally, Lanzhou’s earliest PV power station has become the center of attention, drawing interest from numerous companies and research institutions eager to take it apart and analyze every detail. But let’s not rush to dismantle this remarkable gem—instead, join us as we take a closer look!
 
After leaving Lanzhou Airport and enduring a rather bumpy journey, the editor finally arrived at the legendary solar energy base of Gansu Provincial Academy of Sciences—quite a momentous occasion, to say the least...
Surrounded by the unique mountain ranges of Northwest China lies the renowned solar energy base.

Entering the base, we saw many precious old components.

This is a solar-powered water pump developed by the institute using monocrystalline modules.

 
This is a 2007 monocrystalline array, totaling 1500W, and it still looks as good as new today.

The monocrystalline solar panels on top of this little house are also super cute.
However, none of these are the point.
Look here! This is actually China's oldest commercial-scale photovoltaic power station.

When it comes to the old power station, it initially had an installed capacity of 10 kW and was built in 1983—making it over 30 years old today. It’s located 40 kilometers from Lanzhou city center. Back then, China’s photovoltaic industry was still very immature and extremely small-scale, with national production hovering around 5 MW. These solar monocrystalline panels were actually manufactured by Japan’s Kyocera and shipped directly to Gansu Province. At first, the station didn’t look like the compact rooftop systems we see today. In those days, infrastructure was far from complete, leaving many remote villages in Yuzhong County without access to electricity. It was these solar panels that brought light to people living in those isolated areas, powering homes across the region.
In the late 1980s, as China gradually advanced its development and infrastructure projects, national electricity finally reached this small village. By that point, the mission of these solar-grade monocrystalline panels among the residents had effectively come to an end—though, of course, things might have been different if the government had also actively promoted distributed photovoltaic systems at the time.
 
Here’s a small anecdote: when power was finally restored, many villagers dismantled the solar panels—unsure of what to do with them next. Some simply discarded them outright, while others cleverly repurposed the aluminum frames by gluing glass panels onto them to display photos (imagine—it actually looked pretty stylish back then!). Even more creatively, one villager even used the panels as makeshift pigpen doors by sticking them into the fence posts near the pigsty, unfortunately causing significant damage to the fragile solar cells. Looking back now, it truly feels like a heartbreaking waste of valuable resources. Given this situation, experts and scholars from the Gansu Institute of Natural Energy worked closely with local government officials and villagers to organize a careful recovery effort for these damaged panels—a task that required both hard work and considerable sacrifice. Unfortunately, some of the panels were so severely compromised that they had to be abandoned altogether. After enduring years of relentless exposure to the elements—sun, wind, rain, and extreme weather—they’ve managed to retain a still-impressive output of 7 kilowatts today.

Up close, the solar cell module has already turned yellowish, but that doesn’t stop it from continuously supplying power to the grid.
Today, these 30-plus-year-old solar panels are still functioning perfectly and feeding electricity into the grid. In terms of both their striking appearance and remarkable age, they’d certainly earn a spot on the list of China’s most beautiful vintage solar modules. Beyond their basic power-generation capabilities, ordinary items older than three decades have already become rare and highly prized—let alone these pioneering photovoltaic panels from China’s early days of solar energy development. The flawless crystal structure of monocrystalline cells plays a crucial role here, ensuring that both the efficiency and reliability of the individual cells and the entire panel remain second to none. And while today’s technology has undoubtedly advanced even further, these examples from 30 years ago already serve as compelling proof that photovoltaic modules can easily last for more than 25 years—or even longer.

Which components are over ten years old?

Please don’t doubt the lifespan of photovoltaic modules—facts prove that solar power generation stands the test of time!
Thank you for your attention! Hepuyu New Energy—dedicated to photovoltaic and wind power generation for over a decade. We’re not just a testament to quality; we also promise unwavering reliability!