From pv magazine Global

Chinese solar module manufacturer Longi unveiled last week a new module series based on its proprietary hybrid passivated back contact (HPBC) cell technology at the SNEC tradeshow in Shanghai, China.

The new Hi-MO X6 Artist panel is available in two versions dubbed Ultra Black and Full Black, which share the same electrical specifications.

The new products are sold with wattages ranging from 420 W to 430 W and power conversion efficiency spanning from 21.5% to 22.3%. The open-circuit voltage is between 39.45 V and 40.05 V and the short-circuit current is between 13.54 A and 13.77 A.

The modules have a temperature coefficient of -0.29%/C and a maximum system voltage of 1,500. Their size is 1,722 mm x 1,134 mm x 30 mm and their weight is 22.5 kg. They also feature IP68 junction boxes and 3.2 mm coated tempered glass.

The new products come with a 30-year linear power output warranty, with the 30-year end power output being guaranteed to be no less than 86.9% of the nominal output power.

The new modules are based on HPBC all-black cells and structured glass, which the manufacturer said ensures uniform light reflection in various directions. This feature guarantees a consistent black appearance without glare, regardless of the installation angle.

Unlike traditional solar modules priced by wattage, the Hi-MO X6 Artist is priced by square meter, facilitating easier alignment of the roof area with solar module size and simplifying cost calculations for homeowners. The version with a power output of 450 W is priced at CNY 298 ($41.7)/m2 and the 430W model is sold at CNY 268/m2.

Longi said that the Hi-MO X6 Artist module will enter mass production in the fourth quarter of this year and will be simultaneously available in all global markets.

In March, Longi launched its Hi-MO X6 Explorer and Hi-MO X6 Guardian modules. Later in late May, it presented the Hi-MO X6 Scientist panel. In June, it unveiled the Hi-MO 9 panel.

From pv magazine Global

Longi announced at the SNEC tradeshow in Shanghai, China, that it has achieved a power conversion efficiency of 34.6% for a perovskite-silicon tandem solar cell.

The European Solar Test Installation (ESTI) has certified the results, which represent a world record for this cell typology. The previous record was held by Longi itself, which achieved an efficiency of 33.9% in November.

“We achieved this result by optimizing the thin film deposition process of the electron transport layer, developing and using high-efficiency defect passivation materials, and designing and developing high-quality interfacial passivation structures,” the company said in a statement, without providing further details.

In June, Longi reported an efficiency of 33.5% for the same cell. The European Solar Test Installation (ESTI) certified the results, which represented a significant increase on its previous 31.8% efficiency rating, which was announced during last year’s SNEC edition.

Longi has broken the world record for solar cell efficiency 16 times since April 2021. It claimed the world’s highest efficiency for silicon cells in November 2022, with a 26.81% efficiency rating for an unspecified heterojunction solar cell.

From pv magazine Global

China Green Electricity Investment of Tianjin, a subsidiary of China Green Development Group (CGDG), has switched on the 3.5 GW Midong PV farm in Urumqi, China’s Xinjiang region.

The PV facility is currently the world’s largest solar plant. Prior to commissioning, Chinese state-owned utility Huanghe Hydropower Development started operating the world’s largest solar park, a 2.2 GW facility, in October 2020.

China Construction Eighth Engineering Division Corp and Power Construction Corporation of China (PowerChina) carried out the construction of the Mindong project in stages. The installation required an investment of CNY 15.45 billion. It features more than 5.26 million 650 W monocrystalline bifacial double-glass PV panels supplied by an unnamed manufacturer.

The extensive infrastructure of the project includes the installation of 1.23 million supporting piles, five 220 kV booster stations, and more than 208 km of transmission lines connecting the array to the grid via a 750 kV substation.

China Green Development Group (CGDG), established in December 2020, is a major energy investment entity under the central Chinese government, succeeding the former State Grid-owned Luneng Group. Managed directly by the State-owned Assets Supervision and Administration Commission of the State Council (SASAC), CGDG focuses on the investment, construction, and management of renewable energy projects. The group aims to achieve more than 20 GW of renewable energy installations by the end of 2024.

From pv magazine Global

TCL Zhonghuan has revealed a plan to become a majority shareholder of Singapore-based solar module manufacturer Maxeon. The Chinese company said it would finalize the deal through a number of financial transactions, including the issuance of convertible bonds and additional shares via private placement.

TCL Zhonghuan said it aims to use up to $197.5 million for the acquisition, which will increase its shareholding in Maxeon from 22.39% to a controlling stake of at least 50.1%. If the transaction is completed, Maxeon will become a subsidiary controlled by TCL Zhonghuan, and its results will be consolidated into the Chinese company’s financial statements.

“The series of major investments we announced yesterday in conjunction with our strategic partner, TZE, will fortify our balance sheet, and this recapitalization places Maxeon in a solid financial position and reinforces our role as a leading participant in the renewable energy market,” a Maxeon spokesperson told pv magazine. “Specifically, TZE has committed to a $97.5 million convertible bond issuance followed by a $100 million equity investment, both subject to regulatory approvals.  These investments are occurring during a period of significant solar industry volatility and will enhance Maxeon’s ability to navigate the resultant market challenges with confidence while positioning the company to continue its long history of product innovation and drive growth and increased profit.”

In October 2023, Maxeon announced a plan to lay off 15% of its employees to manage the impacts of lower shipments from a distributed-generation client in North America and an “industry-wide demand slowdown” in global distributed-generation markets. Maxeon CEO Bill Mulligan said in a statement at the time that the company had decided to “streamline” operations, invest in new technologies, and develop a mix between the distributed-generation and utility-scale markets due to “rapidly changing market and industry conditions.”

From pv magazine Global

Trina Solar said it recorded $15.75 billion of revenue in 2023, up 33.32% year on year. Its net profit rose 50.26% to $768.2 million.

Its total PV module shipments reached 65.21GW in 2023, up 51.33% year on year. Its gross profit margin on module sales hit 15.54%. By the end of March 2024, Trina Solar’s cumulative global module shipments surpassed 205 GW, with high-power modules based on 210 mm large-size wafers accounting for more than 120 GW of its total shipments.

The company’s annual report highlighted significant growth across various business segments, with residential PV system shipments reaching 9.6 GW, for a 54.8% year-on-year increase. Its racking business delivered 9.6 GW (including 4.6 GW of trackers), marking a 118.2% year-on-year improvement. Trina Solar said it expects robust growth across these segments in 2024, with ambitious business targets of 80 GW to 90 GW of module shipments, a 20% expansion of its residential PV business, and 50% growth in its racking business.

Trina Solar’s production capacity across polysilicon wafers, solar cells, and PV modules stood at 55 GW, 75 GW, and 95 GW, respectively, by the end of 2023. N-type TOPCon cells accounted for 40 GW of its solar cell capacity. Looking ahead, it said it will scale up its production capacity to 60 GW, 105 GW, and 120 GW for polysilicon wafers, solar cells, and PV modules, respectively.

Trina Solar’s sales of large-scale energy storage containers and systems had penetrated six regional markets by the close of 2023, including China, Europe, Asia-Pacific, North America, Central and East Africa, and Latin America. Its cumulative shipment volume reached nearly 5 GWh. This year, it said it has solidified supply and strategic partnerships with energy companies such as Low Carbon, Pacific Green, and EcoSourcen.

Trina Solar allocated $768.1 million for R&D initiatives in 2023, up 19.69% year on year. The company is actively engaged in 26 R&D projects, with a particular focus on advancing energy storage solutions. These projects range from battery pack innovations to comprehensive system integration solutions.

Trina Solar said that short-term challenges stemming from price declines in the industrial chain due to heightened competition could affect enterprise profitability. However, the company noted that integrated enterprises with strong control over downstream component sales can safeguard their upstream operations, establish cost competitiveness, and expand market share.

From pv magazine global

Chinese inverter and battery producer Sungrow reported annual revenue of approximately $10.18 billion for 2023, marking a significant increase of 79.47% from the preceding year. Its net profit attributable to shareholders of listed companies hit $1.33 billion, up 162.69% year on year.

Sungrow credited the growth in its profit margin to factors such as the expanding brand premium, product innovation, scale effects, and reductions in freight costs and foreign exchange gains.

Sungrow’s main operations produce PV inverters, energy storage systems, and new energy investment and development. These segments represent 38.27%, 25.64%, and 34.23% of total revenue, respectively. About $5.48 billion of Sungrow’s revenue in 2023 originated from domestic operations in China, constituting 54% of the total.

Sungrow recorded substantial growth in core product shipments in 2023. PV inverter shipments reached 130 GW. The company also achieved a leading position among Chinese firms by shipping 10.5 GWh of energy storage systems throughout the world.

From pv magazine Global

Longi has revealed it might reduce its global workforce due to an “increasingly competitive environment” in the solar industry.

“In order to adapt to market changes and improve organizational efficiency, Longi is optimizing its workforce,” a company spokesperson told pv magazine. “The expected job reduction rate is about 5% of total employees, and the information circulating online about our company’s ‘30% layoff’ plan is false.”

The statement refers to an article published by Bloomberg on Monday, citing “people familiar with the matter” as a source. The outlet reported that Longi was planning to cut around one-third of its staff to reduce costs and regain competitiveness in an industry plagued by overcapacity.

This is not the first time layoff rumors have emerged in relation to Longi. In December 2023, reports surfaced suggesting a significant reduction in expatriate laborers and management trainees, alongside a halt in social recruitment activities.

According to the company’s latest annual report, it employed 60,601 people at the end of 2022. It was expected to have grown to around 80,000 employees by mid-2023.

From pv magazine global

Chinese solar module manufacturer Longi has achieved a power conversion efficiency of 27.09% for an HBC solar cell. Germany’s Institute for Solar Energy Research (ISFH) has confirmed the result.

Longi said the result was enabled through a new laser graphical process that costs less than conventional high-cost photolithography processes.

“This substitution has effectively reduced the cost of the BC cell,” the company said in a statement, noting that the HBC architecture also minimizes the reliance on traditional indium-based transparent conductive oxide (ITO). “This breakthrough has propelled the commercialization of HBC solar cells, featuring independent intellectual property and cost-effectiveness.”

In early November, Longi announced a power conversion efficiency of 33.9% for a perovskite-silicon tandem solar cell.

It claimed the world’s highest efficiency for silicon cells in November 2022, with a 26.81% efficiency rating for an unspecified heterojunction solar cell.

Longi said this week that it has achieved a power conversion efficiency of 33.9% for a perovskite-silicon tandem solar cell.

The company said that NREL has confirmed the results, which represent a world record for this cell typology. The previous record was held by Saudi Arabia’s King Abdullah University of Science and Technology (KAUST), which achieved a 33.7% efficiency for a device with the same configuration in June.

“The theoretical efficiency of perovskite-silicon tandem cells is 43%, which makes them the most feasible alternative to current mono-junction silicon cells,” said Longi President Li Zhenguo, without providing technical details.

In June, Longi reported an efficiency of 33.5% for the same cell. The European Solar Test Installation (ESTI) certified the results, which represented a significant increase on its previous 31.8% efficiency rating, which was announced during the SNEC conference in late May in Shanghai, China.

Longi has broken the world record for solar cell efficiency 15 times since April 2021. It claimed the world’s highest efficiency for silicon cells in November 2022, with a 26.81% efficiency rating for an unspecified heterojunction solar cell.

From pv magazine global

Chinese solar module maker Longi unveiled its new Hi-Mo 7 PV module for large scale and C&I applications at the recent SNEC tradeshow in Shanghai, China.

The manufacturer said the new product is based on tunnel oxide passivated contact (TOPCon) cells, M10 wafers and high-performance hybrid passivity (HPDC) dual junction technology.

“The backside of the cell features high and low junctions, optimized film design, and advanced deposition techniques to achieve remarkable full-area passivation with minimal parasitic absorption,” the company explained. “On the front side, the cell is applied with a local low-resistance contact layer that enhances cell efficiency. Additionally, both the front and back sides incorporate upgraded antireflection and low-recombination films, as well as metallization solutions, for superior performance.”

The new product measures 2,278 mm x 1,134 mm x 30 mm and has a weight of 31.8 kg. It features 2.0 mm dual glass, an anodized aluminum frame, and an IP68 rating. The temperature coefficient is -0.28% per C.

The new series comes in seven versions, with power outputs between 560 W and 590 W. The power conversion efficiency ranges between 21.7% and 22.8%. The open-circuit voltage ranges from 50.89 V to 51.63 V and the short-circuit current is between 13.89 A and 14.1 38.

The panels can be used in PV systems with a maximum voltage of 1,500 V. The company offers a 12-year product guarantee and 30-year power output guarantee for 88.18% of the initial yield.

“Longi’s industry-leading product life cycle standards also guarantee the reliability of Hi-MO 7. Hi-MO 7 effectively ensures its reliability throughout its life cycle with optimized designs such as high-quality monocrystalline silicon wafers, customized cell paste, optimized module encapsulation film system, SMBB high-precision interconnection, and high-reliability automatic welding of junction boxes,” the manufacturer stated.

“The application of digitalized manufacturing and quality control platforms, especially intelligent AI detection technology, further guarantees the product quality of Hi-MO 7. Therefore, Hi-MO 7 provides a linear power warranty of not more than 0.38%, bringing customers robust value and efficient returns beyond expectations,” the company added.

From pv magazine global

SEG Solar (SEG) says it has acquired a factory building in Houston, Texas, where it plans to set up 2 GW of solar module production. The California-based company said the facility will produce solar modules based on n-type tunnel oxide passivated contact (TOPCon) cell technology.

The company says plans to source some components from local suppliers. Production is expected to start in the first quarter of 2024. The initial investment in the factory will reach $60 million.

“This facility will help to sustain low carbon, eco-centric energy independence in the U.S. for future generations,” said SEG vice president and chief legal officer Michael Eden.

SEG Solar currently produces solar panels at factories in Vietnam and Indonesia.