He graduated from the Department of Applied Physics of Shanghai Jiaotong University in 1982. In the same year, he went to the United States to study in the CUSPEA program organized by Professor Li Zhengdao. In 1988, he obtained a Ph.D. in physics.

Dr. Yang Liyou has been engaged in the research and development and industrialization of thin film photovoltaic technology since 1985. He is one of the first Chinese scientists to work in the field of thin film photovoltaic power generation. He has made important achievements in the key technologies and industrial applications of thin film solar cells. During his work, Solar created a world record for large-area thin film battery conversion efficiency and led the construction of the world's first 10 MW commercial film production line. During his time in the United States, Dr. Yang served as a member of the Organizing Committee of the American Institute of Electrical and Electronic Engineering (IEEE) Photovoltaic Annual Meeting and a consultant to the US Department of Energy's Thin Film Solar Cell Research Program. He has 22 technical patents and 65 scientific papers.

Dr. Yang Liyou returned to China in 2006 and co-founded Zhengtai Solar Technology Co., Ltd. with Zhengtai Group as the president and CEO. After nearly 7 years of rapid development, Chint Solar has become one of the few well-known solar companies in the world that are involved in both the production of crystalline silicon and thin film and the development and engineering of photovoltaic power plants. The company is in technology, quality and management. Constant innovation, won a good reputation and reputation in the domestic and foreign markets, and established a strong strategic partnership with many famous solar energy companies and financial institutions in the world. At present, the company has a production capacity of nearly 1GW and employs more than 5,000 people. In 2011 and 2012, the output value was about 5 billion yuan. At present, it has invested a total of 800MW in photovoltaic power plants. It is one of the few companies with sustainable profitability under the current downturn of the photovoltaic industry. Since 2010, the company has won many honors such as China's top ten photovoltaic companies and Forbes China's most potential enterprises. In 2013, it was ranked second in Photon Consulting's global comprehensive strength list.

Dr. Yang was selected into the National “Thousand Talents Program” in 2009, and has won the honors of Zhejiang's first top ten technology new Zhejiang merchants, China's top ten photovoltaic figures, West Lake Friendship Award, and SEMI (China) Special Contribution Award. Dr. Yang is currently a board member of the SEMI (China) Advisory Board and Chairman of the Photovoltaic Committee, a member of the Expert Team of the 863 PV Frontier Technology Project of the Ministry of Science and Technology, and the Chairman of the Energy, Resources and Environment Branch of the Zhejiang Overseas High-level Talent Association.