CHINA SOLAR PV NEWS UPDATE: WEEK 42

Our Weekly China Solar PV News Overview provides select stories on solar developments in the world's largest PV market, which have been published on?TaiyangNews - All About Solar. If you are interested in weekly solar updates on China, please subscribe. For our global daily newsletter, check our website https://taiyangnews.info/

MARKETS

NDRC & NEA call for speeding up development of electricity spot market: China’s National Development and Reform Commission and the National Energy Administration have issued a notice aimed at accelerating the development of the electricity spot market in the country. The “Notice on Further Accelerating the Construction of the Electricity Spot Market” outlines several key initiatives, including accelerating the participation of various power sources in the spot market, particularly focusing on new energy by 2030. It emphasizes market-based mechanisms to encourage new entities like energy storage and virtual power plants to play a role in optimizing power generation. The notice also underscores the need for connecting various market mechanisms, such as spot and medium- and long-term transactions, and strengthening coordination between spot goods and ancillary services. The notice further advocates for improving the electricity market price system and exploring a capacity compensation mechanism to ensure reliable power supply and value compensation. It reflects a comprehensive approach to enhancing the electricity market in China while promoting renewable energy and environmental sustainability.

PV industry standard edited by SPIC Huanghe Hydropower released: The China Photovoltaic Industry Association (CPIA) has released the T/CPIA 0054-2023 “Flexible Aluminum Alloy Cables for Photovoltaic Power Generation Systems” standard edited by SPIC Huanghe Hydropower Development Xinye Company. To be implemented from October 30, the company says this standard fills the gap in relevant testing of flexible DC aluminum alloy cables for photovoltaic use in China. Recently, China’s State Administration for Market Regulation (National Standardization Administration Committee) released “Technical Requirements for Desert Photovoltaic Power Stations” drafted by CGN New Energy as a national standard (see China Solar PV News Snippets).

‘Technical Requirements for Desert Photovoltaic Power Stations’ drafted by CGN New Energy officially released: China’s State Administration for Market Regulation (National Standardization Administration Committee) issued and approved 583 recommended national standards including “Public Information Graphical Symbols Part 1: Universal Symbols” and 6 national standard modification orders. The “Technical Requirements for Desert Photovoltaic Power Stations” drafted by CGN New Energy was officially released as a national standard. The standard applies to PV power stations built in the desert and stipulates technical requirements for equipment selection, configuration, installation and acceptance, operation & maintenance. At present, there are no special technical standards for desert PV applications in China or elsewhere. To be officially implemented from January 1, 2024, this standard systematically puts forward the technical requirements for desert PV power stations for the first time, filling the gap in technical standards in this field.

BUSINESS

Production / Cells & Modules

Jiamusi LONGi’s 1 GW high-efficiency module fab starts operations: Leading solar PV manufacturer LONGi Solar has announced that its subsidiary Jiamusi LONGi 1 GW high-efficiency monocrystalline module facility has officially started operations. The company is reported to have invested RBM 1.9 billion ($259.6 million) in the facility, which includes workshops, production lines and supporting facilities. Once fully up and running, the company expects it to generate RMB 2.4 billion ($328 million) in annual revenues.

Jiangsu Xinlinfei Energy to set up 120 GW vertically integrated PV manufacturing base: Jiangsu Xinlinfei Energy Technology Co., Ltd. has announced that it will be setting up the vertically integrated Meilin Photovoltaic Base with a total capacity of 120 GW. The manufacturing base will be built in 3 phases with a total investment of RMB 40 billion ($5.47 billion). It will have an annual capacity of 40 GW of monocrystalline ingots and wafers each, and 20 GW each of large-sized high-efficiency cells and large-sized high-efficiency modules. When fully online, the company expects the base to generate about RMB 38 billion ($5.2 billion) in annual revenues.

Jinenu Solar starts construction on 3 GW high-efficiency PV module facility in Yuexi base: Customized producer of photovoltaic modules Jinenu Solar has announced that it has started construction on the 3 GW high-efficiency PV module fab at its Yuexi Base. This is the company’s 6th manufacturing base. The company is investing a total of RMB 1.1 billion ($150.1 million) in the 150-acre facility, which is expected to start operations in March 2024. In September, Jinenu Solar had announced that it had started construction on its 3 GW module fab in Hexian Base (see China Solar PV News Snippets).

Heguang Tongcheng PV Technology to hit TOPCon solar cell capacity by end of 2023: Solar PV manufacturer Heguang Tongcheng Photovoltaic Technology (Yibin) Co., Ltd. has announced that it aims to hit the planned 16 GW capacity for Phase I by year-end 2023. The cell manufacturing facility is being built in 2 phases of 16 GW each. Phase I started construction in May of 2023, and the company says that it is confident of achieving the target for Phase I given the speed of developments at the site. The company is investing a total of RMB 15 billion ($2.05 billion) in the facility located in Yibin High-tech Zone, which is expected to generate revenues of RMB 10 billion ($1.37 billion) in annual revenues once Phase I is fully operational. The facility rolled out the 1st cell from its production line in September 2023.

Production / Cells & Modules / TOPCon

Sany Silicon Energy rolls out 1st n-type TOPCon cell from Zhuzhou base: Sany Silicon Energy has announced that it has rolled out the 1st n-type TOPCon solar cell manufactured at its 5 GW Zhuzhou base. Located in Qingshuitang Industrial New City, Shifeng District, the company has invested about RMB 3 billion ($410.3 million) in the facility. Once fully up and running, the facility is expected to generate RMB 5 billion ($683.8 million) in annual revenues. The integrated facility has rolled out silicon ingots and PV modules since its inception in November 2022. Sany Silicon recently rolled out the 1st ingot from its Shuozhou facility (see China Solar PV News Snippets).

Hoshine Silicon’s rolls off 1st n-type TOPCon double-glass module: PV module manufacturer HOSHINE SILICON INDUSTRY CO, LTD has announced that it has officially rolled off the 1st n-type TOPCon monocrystalline high-efficiency double-glass module from its production line. The company said that this marks the completion of the 100-billion-level integrated PV industry chain park in the Ganquanbao Economic and Technological Development Zone. Hoshine Silicon Industry claims to have invested over RMB 42.5 billion ($5.81 billion) in this industrial base where it aims to produce 200,000 tons of polysilicon, 20 GW of monocrystalline wafers, and 20 GW of cells annually. In August, Hoshine Silicon Industry announced that it will purchase large-scale monocrystalline CZ pullers from Autowell (see China Solar PV News Snippets).

Ronma’s Jinhua facility Phase I starts operations: Solar PV manufacturer has announced that the first n-type TOPCon Tianma series module has rolled off the production line at its Jinhua module facility. Being built in 2 phases, the company is investing about RMB 3.84 billion ($525.1 million) in Phase I of the 396.4-acre manufacturing facility. As part of the first phase, the company aims to produce 8 GW of cells and 2 GW modules at the facility. Once the 8 GW cell capacity is put into production in November, i.e., at the end of Phase I, Ronma expects the facility to generate RMB 12.5 billion ($1.71 billion) in annual. By the end of Phase II, the facility will have an annual output of 10 GW of PV cells and 18 GW of modules.

Astronergy’s Jiuquan base starts operations: Astronergy has announced that it has commissioned the 2 GW TOPCon cell production line at its Jiuquan Intelligent Manufacturing Base. The company has invested RMB 1.5 billion ($205.1 million) in the second phase, which will help the company in its aim to achieve 53 GW cell and 55 GW module production capacity by the end of 2023. Astronergy says that the Jiuquan base has achieved 2 GW each of high-efficiency cells and modules of annual capacity. As part of the third phase, the company will expand its high-efficiency cell capacity at the site to 10 GW annually.

Haitai Solar plans to relocate 10 GW TOPCon high-efficiency PV cell facility: Green energy company Haitai Solar has announced it wants to relocate its planned facility in the Yancheng Economic and Technological Development Zone Optoelectronic Industrial Park. The company cites issues and uncertainties in land acquisitions as the reason behind the relocation. Haitai Solar now plans to move its 10 GW TOPCon high-efficiency photovoltaic cell facility to Chuzhou High-tech Zone in Tianching City. The company plans to invest a total of RMB 5 billion ($ 683.8 million) in new 400-acre facility. Haitai Solar expects the new facility to become operational 18 months from the start of construction.

Production / Crystal Wafers

TCL Zhonghuan and Vision Industries to build crystal wafer fab in Saudi: At the third “One Belt, One Road” Entrepreneurs Conference, TCL Zhonghuan has signed a Joint Development Agreement with Saudi Arabia’s Vision Industries to jointly build a crystal wafer facility in Saudi Arabia. Phase I targets a production capacity of 20 GW. TCL Zhonghuan says that its “Deep Blue” + AI model enhances the factory’s flexible manufacturing capabilities through in-depth integration of technological innovation, process advancement, and Industry 4.0 manufacturing systems. The company will combine Saudi Vision Industries and its rich regional resources and business layout in energy, hydrogen energy, desalination, etc.

Production / PV Glass

Almaden plans to change BIPV anti-glare coated glass facility to ultra-thin PV glass facility: Solar glass manufacturer Almaden has announced that it plans to make changes and adjustments to the investment projects with part of the funds raised from the non-public issuance of stocks in 2020 in order to improve the efficiency of the use of raised funds. Firstly, the company intends to drop its construction plans on the BIPV anti-glare coated glass facility. Instead, it wants to use the RMB 114.6847 million unused portion of the raised funds for new investment projects and working capital. RMB 80 million of this balance will be used for the ultra-thin PV backplane glass facility, and the remaining RMB 34.6847 million will be used to permanently supplement working capital. The company cites loss of demand due to frictions in international trade and geopolitical risks as the reasons for this change.

Supply / Cells & Modules / HJT

Golden Photovoltaic ships 1st batch of HJT modules for Guazhou Power Station: PV module manufacturer Golden Photovoltaic has announced that it has successfully shipped the first batch of 30 MW heterojunction (HJT) modules for the Guazhou Power Station Project of Guangdong Zhongliang Construction Engineering Co., Ltd. The company’s JGDN-132 high-efficiency large-size module that will be used at the plant adopts bifacial microcrystalline HJT and half-cell technology in the 210 format. Golden Photovoltaic says that its HJT modules were chosen for the project as these modules can better adapt to desert scenes. Recently, Golden Solar announced the completion of its new generation heterojunction back contact (HBC) cell production line (see China Solar PV News Snippets).

Supply / Perovskite Thin Film

S.C New Energy ships large-area perovskite thin film vertical mass production equipment: Solar production equipment manufacturer S.C New Energy Technology has announced that it has successfully shipped large-area perovskite thin film vertical mass production equipment, including RPD and PVD equipment for perovskite. The company said that its customer had previously used its RPD equipment to achieve a third-party certified conversion efficiency of more than 19% on perovskite modules.

PV Power Plants

Trina Solar’s Vertex modules at 2 GW PV project in Ningxia: Trina Solar has announced that a 2 GW photovoltaic (PV) project within coal mine goafs in Ningxia, China is using its Vertex N 700W and Vertex 670W ultra-high-power modules. This is expected to save around 960,000 tons of standard coal and reduce CO2 emissions by approximately 2.62 million tons annually once connected to the grid. The company says the project is a model of using renewable energy tailored to local conditions, optimizing land resources in subsidence areas and barren hills. Recently, a study conducted by China General Certification, a third-party technical service organization concluded that Trina Solar’s Vertex 600W+ series modules produced energy gain of up to 8.82% compared with that of mono-facial modules in windy areas (see China Solar PV News Snippets).

Huaigang Special Steel’s 30 MW solar power station starts operations: Huaigang Special Steel has announced that its 30 MW distributed PV power generation plant has been put into operation. Dubbed the largest lightweight PVV module project in China and the world, the company says it is also the first demonstration project in China that uses lightweight modules on a 42-meter-high and 530-meter-long arched roof. The 30 MW plant, built over 270,000 sq. m. in Jiangsu Lihuai Iron and Steel Park, started construction in July 2022 and received on-site acceptance from Huai’an Power Supply Company in November 2022. A total of 67,590 Sunman Energy lightweight modules with a power of 430 W have been used in this project that utilizes unused rooftops of businesses. Once connected to the grid, the company says that the power station will adopt a “self-consumption” mode, with the power consumption ratio reaching 100%. The company expects to generate about 30 million kilowatt-hours in the first year, reducing 28,910 tons carbon dioxide emissions from the factory.

PV Inverter & Converter

New Universal Technology to invest RMB 460 million in inverter and bidirectional converter production facility: New Universal Technology has announced that it plans to invest about RMB 460 million to establish a wholly-owned or holding subsidiary in the Jinxian County People’s Government area to build a 100,000 sq. m. factory and supporting buildings, and a 20 GW high-reliability PV inverter and bidirectional converter production facility.

Certifications

Risen Energy gets France’s carbon footprint certification for HJT Hyper-ion modules: Solar panel maker Risen Energy has announced that it has received French carbon footprint certification for its heterojunction (HJT) Hyper-ion series modules. At 376.5 kg eq. CO2/kWc, the company said that this sets a new low in the industry’s carbon footprint certification value. The certified ultra-low carbon and ultra-efficient heterojunction Fuxi Hyper-ion module was launched by Risen in 2022, which has passed the new standard IEC61215:2021&61730:2023 certification. The module features technologies such as laminated superimposed bifacial microcrystalline technology, low silver-containing slurry, main grid-less cells, and liter-connection stress-free cell interconnection. The module can reach an efficiency of 23.9%, a stable temperature coefficient and an ultra-high bifacial ratio of 85%±10%. Recently, DMEGC Solar’s Sihong plant was awarded 4-Star Zero-Carbon Certification by TüV SüD (see China Solar PV News Snippets).

DMEGC Solar’s Sihong plant awarded 1st 4-Star Zero-Carbon Certification in PV Sector: Solar PV manufacturer DMEGC Solar has announced that its factory in Sihong, Jiangsu Province, has been named a Zero Carbon Factory by TüV SüD. The company says that it is the 1st photovoltaic (PV) manufacturer to receive the certification from the certification body. TüV SüD’s evaluation found that the Sihong plant a 99% greenhouse gas offset and is powered entirely by renewable energy (see China Solar PV News Snippets). The Sihong plant has also received certification from the French Certisolis for its low carbon footprint. The company says the plant can save up to 870,000 kWh of power annually, reducing 594 tons of CO2 emissions and avoiding 254 tons of coal consumption. DMEGC Solar says that it plans to add 44 MW of rooftop PV capacity to its factories in Sihong, Lianyungang, and Yibin.

DMEGC Solar gets TüV SüD certification for n-type TOPCon single-glass modules: Vertically integrated solar module manufacturer DMEGC solar has announced that it has received TüV SüD certification for its latest N-type TOPCon high-efficiency single-glass module products. The company said that the certifications are based on IEC 61215-1:2021, IEC 61215-1-1:2021, IEC 61215- 2:2021, IEC 61730-1:2023 and IEC 61730-2:2023 standards. This comes close on the heels of the company announcing the commissioning of its TOPCon high-efficiency cell manufacturing base in Yibin City (see China Solar PV News Snippets).

Performance Forecast

JinkoSolar forecasts 9M 2023 net profit to rise up to 290%: PV Module manufacturer JinkoSolar has forecast its net profit for the 1st 3 quarters of 2023 to range between RMB 6.14 billion ($839 million) and RMB 6.54 billion ($893.7 million). This translates to an increase of 266.36% to 290.22% Year-over-Year (YoY). The company attributes this optimistic forecast to the strong demand for advanced products, an increase in PV module shipments and the proportion of n-type shipments, and improved performance versus the same period last year. Recently, solar PV cell manufacturer Drinda forecast its net profit to increase 290% to 340% (see China Solar PV News Snippets).

Gaoce forecasts 9M 2023 net profit to increase by 172 to 174%: Wire cutting equipment manufacturer Gaoce has forecast its net profit to come in between RMB 1.165 billion ($159.3 million) to RMB 1.175 billion ($160.7 million) for the 1st 3 quarters of 2023. This translates to an increase of 172.11% to 174.44% Year-over-Year (YoY). The company said that its orders increased significantly during the period. Stating that its photovoltaic (PV) equipment operating income and net profit achieved rapid growth over the same period last year, the company also said that its diamond wire production capacity and shipments have increased significantly YoY, achieving full production and full sales.

Drinda forecasts huge rise in net profits for 9M 2023: Solar PV cell and automotive instrument panel assembly manufacturer Hainan Drinda New Energy Technology Co. Ltd. has forecast its net profit to increase 290% to 340% to RMB 1.6 billion ($218.8 million) to RMB 1.8 billion ($246.2 million) for the first 3 quarters of 2023. The company attributes this uptick to many factors, chiefly the boost in demand driven by lower costs on the back increased silicon production capacity and the subsequent decrease in prices. Drinda also cited the accelerated transition from p-type to n-type technology as a factor; n-type products comprised 62.46% of its product structure during the reporting period. The company also said that its capacity expansion to cater to increased demand resulted in a substantial increase in cell shipments.

On the operational front, the company commissioned the 10 GW Chuzhou Phase II and the 13 GW Huai’an Phase I facilities during the period. Drinda’s cell shipments increased around 183% year-on-year to 19.55 GW. Broken down into constituents, the company shipped 7.34 GW of p-type PERC cells, with N-type TOPCon accounting for the remaining 12.21 GW. At present, the company has 9.5 GW PERC production capacity at its Shangrao base, 18 GW p-type TOPCon production capacity at Chuzhou base, and is in the process of expanding its n-type TOPCon production capacity at Huai’an base to 26 GW. In September, the company reported a revenue increase of 112.83% YoY for H1 2023 (see China Solar PV News Snippets).

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