by MA Yueran

A team linked to Elon Musk has recently visited several Chinese solar companies, according to people familiar with the matter, drawing attention to China's photovoltaic supply chain as interest grows in space-based energy and computing.

The visits last week included TCL Zhonghuan (002129.SZ), JinkoSolar (688223.SH) and Jingsheng Mechanical & Electrical (300316.SZ), people familiar with the matter said. Jingsheng said it had no comment and that any information would be disclosed through official filings. TCL Zhonghuan did not immediately respond to requests for comment. A JinkoSolar representative confirmed contact with a Musk-linked delegation, saying the group reviewed the company's technology and manufacturing capabilities but declined to discuss details or any potential cooperation.

Market sources said the team had also visited Chinese solar equipment makers and may have engaged with leading suppliers, though no listed company has announced contracts or formal partnerships.

The reports lifted solar-related shares in the previous session, with several major names rising sharply. Jingsheng later flagged unusual share price movements in a filing, warning that applications of space-based photovoltaics remain at an early stage and cautioning investors against speculative trading.

Analysts say Musk's interest in space-based solar power is closely tied to heterojunction (HJT) technology, which is seen as more suitable for high-efficiency applications in space. A research note from Huaxi Securities said SpaceX has selected P-type HJT cells as a pathway toward large-scale, lower-cost space solar power generation.

Attention on the solar supply chain has intensified alongside Musk's broader strategic moves. On Feb. 2, he announced an all-stock merger of SpaceX and xAI, a deal that would combine launch capability, satellite networks and artificial intelligence under one platform, valuing the merged group at about US$1.25 trillion.

Musk has argued that today's AI systems rely heavily on power-intensive terrestrial data centers and that shifting computing workloads to space—powered by near-continuous solar energy—could lower operating costs and expand scalable computing capacity.

Analysts say any move toward space-based solar power would likely require large volumes of high-efficiency cells and rapid manufacturing scale—areas where Chinese suppliers hold clear cost and capacity advantages. China dominates the global solar supply chain, accounting for the bulk of worldwide photovoltaic module output, while U.S. production remains more concentrated in module assembly and relies heavily on imported cells.

Musk has said that within two to three years, space-based AI computing could become the lowest-cost option. SpaceX has applied to the U.S. Federal Communications Commission to launch up to one million satellites to form an orbital data center, though the proposal would still face regulatory, technical and cost hurdles.