https://www.pv-tech.cn/news/Mass_production_of_next_generation_photovoltaic_cell_equipment_is_coming_w?
(PV-Tech News) Photovoltaic cells will usher in new technological changes. At present, mainstream photovoltaic cell equipment on the market may be replaced by two new technology equipment, and many listed companies are investing in betting. With the mass production of two devices known as the "next generation photovoltaic cell technology", and the positive PK, who will win?
The age of N-type batteries is here
The reporter recently learned from Shenzhen Laplace Energy Technology Co., Ltd. (hereinafter referred to as Laplace) that the company's Wuxi expansion project is expected to be put into operation in May this year, and the next-generation photovoltaic cell equipment TOPCon capacity is expected to double when it reaches production capacity.
TOPCon is the tunneling oxidation passivation contact cell. Like HJT (heterojunction), it is considered the next generation photovoltaic cell technology.
Photovoltaic cell technology has undergone many iterations: from conventional aluminum backplane BSF batteries (generation 1) to PERC batteries (generation 2), to batteries (TOPCon), HJT batteries (generation 3), and HBC batteries (generation 4). With each new technology iteration, the photovoltaic cell industry will usher in a new round of expansion cycle of 2-3 years, which will drive the surge in demand for next-generation battery equipment.
Monocrystalline PERC (passivated emitter back contact cell), which is currently the mainstream battery equipment in the market, has made an important contribution to promoting photovoltaic power generation to the era of parity. From 2012 to 2014, PERC entered the commercialization exploration stage, and the core equipment suppliers were mainly overseas manufacturers Meyer Burger. In 2017, domestic equipment gradually emerged. Beginning in 2018, PERC's production and sales have seen a full-blown explosion. Currently, PERC's core equipment has been replaced by localization.
However, when PERC's photoelectric conversion efficiency reaches 23.6%, which is gradually approaching the ceiling, cell manufacturers have successively deployed N-type solar cell technology with higher efficiency, lower degradation rate, and higher power generation. TOPCon and HJT are the mainstream technologies for N-type cells at this stage, and both have entered the introduction period for mass production, and are expected to gradually increase in 2021. Once new technology replacement becomes a trend, it will usher in a new round of cost reduction bonuses.
TOPCon and HJT are considered to be the next generation of high-efficiency battery technologies after PERC. In contrast, HJT is a revolutionary technology and is completely incompatible with existing PERC equipment. If this technology is used, upstream and downstream equipment in the industrial chain will need to be re-developed and constructed, but with fewer processes. However, TOPCon has high compatibility with PERC, and the investment cost is relatively lower.
The China Photovoltaic Industry Association has compared the main performance indicators of various technical routes, as shown in the attached table.
According to data from New Era Securities, in a 100MW photovoltaic power generation project, the cost of monocrystalline PERC per kilowatt-hour is US$41/MWh, which is lower than TOPCon’s US$42/MWh and HJT’s US$43/MWh. On the whole, TOPCON and HJT still need to further reduce costs and improve processes in the mass production process.
Listed companies bet on new technologies
Judging from the current corporate layout, many manufacturers such as Zhonglai Co., Ltd. (rights protection), Trina Solar, Aixu, Tongwei, JA Solar, Canadian Solar, JinkoSolar, Longji Co., Ltd. have TOPCon battery technology reserves, and Achieved a higher conversion efficiency for R&D or mass production.
Among them, Zhonglai shares first set foot in TOPCon and is currently the company with the largest investment, accounting for about 40%. Zhonglai once disclosed that the company has an annual production capacity of 2.1GW of N-type batteries. It is currently the world's largest and the only battery manufacturer in China that mass-produces TOPCon. The photoelectric conversion efficiency has reached 23.5% to 24.5%.
In terms of equipment, TOPCon has added deposition equipment, boron expansion equipment, and wet etching equipment to the original production line. All three types of equipment have achieved high domestic production. Jiejia Weichuang, North Huachuang, Laplace, etc. can be supplied.
The relevant person in charge of Laplace told reporters that the company's current production capacity of TOPCon is 25 units per month, equivalent to 1.5GW. TOPCon will ship 1GW in 2020, and orders this year will be large, and shipments are expected to more than double. Many photovoltaic manufacturers plan to invest in N-type batteries in the second half of this year.
In terms of HJT, TrendForce New Energy analysts believe that the current market’s technical routes represented by REC (Meyer Burger), Tongwei, and Junshi Energy have attracted the most attention, and the first round of HJT production line heat is expected to start in mid-2021. , To promote the process of industrialization.
Source: China Securities Journal
(Editor in charge: Wang Hong)
© Solar Media Limited 2014 All rights reserved