Jan 4, 2024

China Solar PV News Snippets Trina Solar Vertex N Modules Receive EPD Certifications & More From DAS Solar, Golden Solar, China Huaneng, DKEM, Gokin Solar, JA Solar, Jinko Power, NEA, CPIA Jan 04, 2024 EPD certifications for Trina’s Vertex N modules; DAS Solar’s IPO; 1st perovskite/hybrid BC tandem solar cell launched; Gokin Solar’s 1st phase of 16 GW PV module production base online; JA Solar’s Qujing Base cell & module fab online, & more from DKEM, Jinko Power, NEA, CPIA. Trina Solar receives EPD certifications for Vertex N modules: Trina Solar has announced via a press release that it has received Environmental Product Declaration (EPD) certifications from UL Solutions and EPDItaly for its high-efficiency Vertex N 700W modules. The company claims a low Global Warming Potential (GWP) of 13.2 CO2 eq/kWh for these modules. The GWP value is recognized by internationally accredited third-party verification reports based on ISO 14025. The company says that the EPD certifications underscore its commitment to social responsibility and sustainable development. The company’s 210 mm Vertex module range was awarded LCA certificate and the Carbon Footprint Certificate by TÜV Rheinland last year. Trina’s manufacturing plant in Yiwu, Zhejiang province, has been named a Zero Carbon Factory by TiGroup, the 1st in the PV industry. Its manufacturing plant in Suqian, Jiangsu province, has been named a national green factory. At the TaiyangNews High Efficiency Solar Technologies Conference Day 3 held last month, Trina Solar’s Product Manager Lukas Chao Ye shared the company’s experience in adapting TOPCon to rectangular wafer formats (see TOPCon Part II: High Efficiency Solar Technologies Conference Day 3 ). DAS Solar’s IPO application accepted: DAS Solar has announced that its prospectus for an initial public offering (IPO) has been accepted by the Shenzhen Stock Exchange. According to the prospectus, the company plans to invest approximately RMB 5.813 billion ($811.18 million) in the proposed projects, with an intended capital injection of RMB 2.5 billion ($349.65 million). The main projects include the construction of a 14 GW n-type TOPCon high-efficiency monocrystalline cell and a 20 GW high-efficiency monocrystalline module, along with additional funding for working capital. The company’s revenue for the years 2020, 2021, 2022, and January to June 2023 were RMB 736 million ($102.92 million), RMB 1.894 billion ($264.58 million), RMB 8.606 billion ($1.201 billion), and RMB 9.454 billion ($1.319 billion), respectively. In December 2023, DAS Solar announced that the open-circuit voltage (VOC) of its n-type TOPCon high-efficiency cells has achieved 735 mV (see China Solar PV News Snippets ). 1st perovskite/hybrid BC tandem solar cell launched: The 1st perovskite/hybrid BC (Hybrid BC) 4-terminal laminated solar cell, jointly developed by the National Engineering Research Center for High-efficiency Solar Cell Equipment and Technology of Gold Stone Energy, Golden Solar and Huaqiao University, has been launched. The conversion efficiency of the perovskite cell on the top layer of this stacked cell (cell area is 0.1 cm²) is 21.34%, and the conversion efficiency of the hybrid BC cell on the bottom layer is 12.6%. The combined conversion efficiency of the cell has been certified at 33.94%. This perovskite/hybrid BC 4-terminal tandem cell showcases a high conversion efficiency, a simple process sans compatibility issues caused by current matching, and production line compatibility without the need to modify the existing production line. China Huaneng’s Longdong Energy Base grid-connects 1st batch of 1 GW wind & solar projects: China Huaneng has announced that the 1st phase of its projects at Longdong Energy Base have been successfully grid-connected. The initial 1 GW wind and solar project is located in Qingyang City, Gansu Province, comprising 759 MW of wind power and 241 MW of solar PV. This project is among the 1st large-scale wind and solar bases in the “desert, Gobi, and wasteland” designated by the national initiative. Gokin Solar’s 1st phase of 16 GW PV module production base online: Gokin Solar has announced that it has brought online the 1st phase of its 16 GW PV module production base. The company is investing a total of RMB 10.9 billion ($1.52 billion) in the manufacturing base that spans an area of 400 acres. The 4 GW 1st phase of the 16 GW production base has now officially started producing the n-type 182 series, which is expected to generate more than RMB 10 billion ($1.4 billion) in annual revenues for the company. DKEM to invest in 2,000-ton silver paste production factory: Advanced technology materials company DKEM announced late last month that it has received approval from its board of directors for the company’s external investment in the construction of a 2,000-ton high-efficiency PV conductive silver paste production facility. The company said that the board has also agreed for the company to sign an investment agreement with Mianzhu High-tech Industrial Park Management Committee for the same. The company plans to invest about RMB 200 million ($28 million) in the high-efficiency PV conductive silver paste production and manufacturing base with an annual output of 2,000 tons, along with a research and development center, etc. Located in the Mianzhu High-tech Zone, Sichuan Province, the facility is planned to be up and running within 12 months from the date of signing the agreement. JA Solar’s Qujing Base 10 GW high-efficiency cell and 5 GW high-efficiency module fab online: Solar PV panel manufacturer JA Solar has announced the commissioning of its 10 GW high-efficiency cell and 5 GW high-efficiency module projects at its Qujing base. The company said that the start of production at the Qujing base helps JA Solar rapidly expand its n-type cell and module production capacity. Chairman Baofang Jin said that Qujing is an important fulcrum for China’s “One Belt, One Road” initiative and a key link in JA Solar’s layout of the global supply chain. Jinko Power’s residential solar PV stations surpass 1GW in cumulative grid-connected capacity: Clean energy supplier Jinko Power has announced that the cumulative grid-connected capacity of its residential solar PV stations has reached 1,000.02 MW as of December 27, 2023, surpassing the 1 GW milestone. Since launching its residential PV solutions brand in April 2022, the company says the scale of its residential solar stations has grown rapidly. Currently, the company has launched the ‘Bathing in Sunshine Initiative’ in over 500 districts and counties across 20 provinces, including Henan, Shandong, Anhui, Jiangsu, and Jiangxi. It says this initiative has brought green electricity benefits to more than 50,000 households. NEA announces 56 new energy storage pilot demonstration projects: Late last month, the National Energy Administration (NEA) announced its plans to leverage the guiding role of demonstration projects to promote the diversified and high-quality development of new energy storage. The announcement includes the designation of 56 projects as pilot demonstration projects for new energy storage, including the 300 MW/1800 MWh compressed air energy storage demonstration project in Feicheng City, Shandong Province, and the 70 MW/140 MWh lithium-ion battery energy storage demonstration project in Wuhua County. Last month, NEA data indicated that the country added 163.88 GW of solar PV generation capacity for the period of January to November 2023 (see China Solar PV News Snippets ). CPIA’s November 2023 China PV manufacturing industry snapshot: CPIA has released a summary snapshot of China’s photovoltaic manufacturing industry in November 2023. Below are some of the highlights for the month: Solar-grade polysilicon production fell 6.4% month-on-month (MoM) and increased 0.6% year-on-year (YoY) Silicon wafer production was down 0.4% MoM and up 28.9% YoY; monocrystalline silicon wafer production accounted for approximately 99.9% of the total Cell production was down 4.0% MoM, but up 42.5% YoY, with monocrystalline cell production accounting for approximately 98.6% Module production was down 2.7% MoM and up 34.8% YoY, with monocrystalline module production accounting for approximately 99.9% Inverter output was up 10.3% MoM and 13.7% YoY Share: