Under the dual carbon target regulation, this article constructs a collaborative research and development carbon reduction model for the photovoltaic industry supply chain from the perspective of carbon tax and consumer green preferences, using differential game theory. Considering three different scenarios of no research and development carbon reduction, independent research and development carbon reduction, and collaborative research and development carbon reduction, the optimal factors and profit values are obtained, and case analysis and sensitivity analysis are conducted. Research has found that: 1) The optimal carbon reduction achieved by photovoltaic industry supply chain entities through cooperative research and development is higher than that achieved through independent research and development. 2) The increase in carbon tax rates has to some extent increased carbon emissions, but at the same time reduced the overall profit of the photovoltaic industry chain. 3) The higher the proportion of research and development costs borne by photovoltaic system manufacturers, the higher the carbon emission reduction of photovoltaic silicon wafer suppliers' research and development. 4) Consumer green preferences are beneficial for increasing carbon emissions reduction in the photovoltaic industry chain.