Mono is the future, says LONGi.
The photovoltaic industry is experiencing rapid change, with high-efficiency modules seizing market share and setting the stage for even higher efficiencies to come.
Passivated emitter and rear cell (PERC) technology, and particularly the monocrystalline silicon version of PERC, is the hot adoption trend in 2017.
Just two years ago, PERC cell capacity accounted for about 5 gigawatts of the market. But the drive for higher efficiencies in the world’s largest solar market, China, has turned the tables. PERC cell capacity is expected to reach about 35 gigawatts in 2017, or roughly one-third of all PV module production, according to GTM Research.
PERC technology increases cell conversion efficiency by adding a dielectric passivation layer at the rear side of the cell that reduces surface recombination. Manufacturers can cost-effectively increase efficiency beyond standard multi c-Si, building higher-wattage modules, and generating more power per square foot in a solar installation.
Even better, LONGi solar and another Chinese enterprise broke the world record for p-type monocrystal PERC cell efficiency three times in 10 days during October, which undoubtedly shows the strength of this advanced technology.
While PERC cells are gaining quickly, there is also a significant shift occurring in the marketplace itself, where mono c-Si cells are rapidly replacing multi c-Si cells. Mono will account for 70 percent of PERC module production in 2017, according to GTM Research. Mono isn’t just gaining ground in PERC cells. In conventional module production, mono will account for 38 percent of production in 2017, up from 25 percent in 2015.
Source: greentechmedia
