WEEKLY CHINA SOLAR PV NEWS UPDATE: WEEK 45
China adds 11,560 new registered PV projects in September; LONGi partners with Yingfa on 16 GW HPBC cell manufacturing fab; Astronergy secures TOPCon PV module tenders worth 3 GW. ?All these and a host of other news stories from China in our Weekly China Solar PV News Overview. These stories on solar developments have been published on TaiyangNews - All About Solar over the course of the past 7 days.
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China’s 2023 PV power utilization rate hits 98%: The National Energy Administration (NEA) of China released the 2023 monitoring and evaluation report on renewable energy development. Key renewable energy power data is as follows:
6 Chinese government departments, including the NEA and NDRC, recently released guidelines to promote renewable energy replacement (see China Solar PV News Snippets ).
China adds 11,560 new registered PV projects in September: According to the NEA, China registered 11,631 new renewable energy projects (excluding household solar) in September 2024, including 36 wind power projects, 11,560 solar PV projects (50 centralized PV power projects and 11,510 industrial and commercial distributed solar PV projects, excluding household solar), and 35 biomass power projects. By region, the top 3 provinces for new centralized solar projects were Hebei (12 projects), Shandong (8 projects), and Jiangxi (6 projects). For industrial and commercial solar projects, the top 3 provinces were Guangdong (3,932 projects), Shandong (1,844 projects), and Zhejiang (1,640 projects).
Photovoltaic desertification prevention plan approved: An expert panel has conducted a review of the Photovoltaic Desertification Prevention Plan for the Three-North Desert Gobi Desert Region (2024-2030). The panel was organized by the National Forestry and Grassland Administration, in cooperation with the National Development and Reform Commission (NDRC) and the National Energy Administration (NEA). The Plan proposes development goals, planning layouts, major projects, experimental initiatives, integrated development paths, and safeguard mechanisms for the photovoltaic desertification prevention effort, establishing a new model for integrating desertification prevention with photovoltaic construction. The experts suggested using monitoring stations and data models to assess the ecological impacts of PV and wind power base constructions, providing a scientific basis for decision-making in PV desertification control. The release said that the review was unanimously approved, with formal documentation to follow.
China seeks public opinion on pollution control standards for PV waste recycling: China’s Ministry of Ecology and Environment has released a draft standard for public consultation outlining the technical requirements for pollution control during the disassembly, collection, transportation, storage, dismantling, recycling, and disposal of waste solar PV equipment. Titled Pollution Control Technical Specifications for the Recycling and Treatment of Waste Solar PV Equipment, the standard applies to the entire waste solar equipment handling process and serves as a technical reference for environmental impact assessments of related construction projects. The document mandates that waste treatment enterprises must have centralized operation sites with a minimum area of 20,000 m2 and a processing capacity of at least 10,000 tons per year. All processes should follow the principles of reduction, resource utilization, and harmlessness, prioritizing low-energy consumption, high resource recovery rates, and minimal pollutant emissions.
China advances renewable energy replacement initiatives: 6 Chinese government departments, including the National Development and Reform Commission and the National Energy Administration, have released guidelines to promote renewable energy replacement in mid-October. The document targets renewable energy consumption reaching over 1.1 billion tons of standard coal equivalent by 2025 and 1.5 billion tons by 2030. To achieve these goals, the guidelines propose multiple measures, including accelerated construction of large-scale wind and solar bases in desert, Gobi, and arid areas; rooftop PV installations on existing buildings; PV installations on new commercial buildings where feasible; and development of decentralized wind and distributed solar in suitable rural areas. Additional measures support integrating renewable energy with 5G base stations, data centers, and supercomputing centers, as well as promoting solar energy applications in desert greening, solar corridors, and ocean farming.
BUSINESS
Production / Cells & Modules
DMEGC Solar expands module capacity at Lianyungang Base to 10 GW: Vertically integrated solar manufacturer DMEGC Solar has completed its 10 GW Lianyungang solar module production facility with the rollout of the first module from its new 5 GW Phase II plant. Covering 159 acres, the company says this site features advanced 5G, AI-enabled automation, and upgraded assembly lines, enhancing production efficiency and reducing costs. The facility primarily produces Infinity N-type high-efficiency modules, known for consistent top efficiency in TaiyangNews listings. Globally, DMEGC Solar now has 6 production bases with a 2024 capacity target of 23GW in cells and 21GW in modules. The Lianyungang base achieved 100% green energy production and received TüV SüD's first ISO 14068 Carbon Neutrality Certificate in the PV sector (see China Solar PV News Snippets ).
Production / Cells & Modules / HJT
Huasun’s Xuancheng Phase V rolls out 1st batch of 210HP HJT solar cells: Heterojunction (HJT) solar manufacturer Huasun Energy has announced that its Xuancheng Phase V 1 GW cell manufacturing facility has rolled out the first batch of HJT solar cells. The company said that it aims for future mass production efficiency of up to 26.24%. The cells, produced on October 25, 2024, incorporate advanced half-cut and SMBB processes, and Huasun plans further enhancements using zero busbar (0BB) technology. The Xuancheng team completed extensive testing since commissioning on September 9 to ensure smooth production. Huasun says its innovations like improved textured surfaces, ITO films, and tailored silver-copper paste support its goal of high-efficiency, cost-effective HJT cell production.
Recently, Huasun won a bid to supply 1 GW of HJT modules to PowerChina (see China Solar PV News Snippets ).
Production / Cells & Modules / HPBC
LONGi partners with Yingfa on 16 GW HPBC cell manufacturing fab: Leading solar manufacturer LONGi has signed a strategic cooperation agreement with Yingfa Group subsidiary Yingfa Deyao Technology Co., Ltd. and Yibin High-tech Zone of Yibin City in Sichuan Province for a manufacturing facility that will produce 16 GW of HPBC solar cells annually. Through this agreement, the 3 parties aim to strengthen cooperation in the PV industry, focusing on HPBC cell production, sales, and related technologies. The initial phase, with a planned capacity of 6 GW, is expected to be completed by 2025. According to InfoLink Consulting, Yingfa Group ranked 4th in global external solar cell shipments (excluding self-use by vertically integrated manufacturers and outsourced production) alongside AIKO for the first half of 2024. LONGi recently announced achieving 25.4% efficiency for a solar module based on its HPBC 2.0 cell platform (see LONGi Announces ‘World Record’ For C-Si Solar Module Efficiency ).
Supply / Cells & Modules / TOPCon
Astronergy secures TOPCon PV module tenders worth 3 GW: Solar module maker Astronergy has announced that it has received 3 GW of PV module contract awards from 2 of China’s state-owned energy companies, the State Power Investment Corporation (SPIC) and China Huadian Corporation (CHC). For the 12.5 GW PV module tender from SPIC, Astronergy will supply 1.57 GW of its n-type TOPCon modules, including the ASTRO N5 and N7 series. Additionally, Astronergy obtained a 1.4 GW contract as part of CHC's 16 GW tender. The company claims it has won bids worth over 7 GW from CHC since 2023. According to a recent CPVT report, Astronergy’s ASTRO N n-type TOPCon PV modules were found to show a 1st-year degradation of just 0.66% (see China Solar PV News Snippets ).
CECEP Solar shortlists 5 companies for 2.5 GW TOPCon module procurement: CECEP Solar has announced the shortlisted suppliers for its 2024 solar module framework agreement procurement. This procurement covers 2.5 GW of n-TOPCon bifacial dual-glass modules, with 5 companies shortlisted. The companies and their bid prices are as follows: Astronergy, RMB 0.688 ($0.096) per watt; CECEP Solar’s subsidiary CECEP Solar Technology (Zhenjiang) Co., Ltd., RMB 0.68 ($0.095) per watt; Huansheng Solar (a subsidiary of TCL TZE), RMB 0.68 ($0.095) per watt; Trinasolar, RMB 0.70 ($0.099) per watt; and Canadian Solar, RMB 0.703 ($0.099) per watt. The average bid price of the 5 companies is RMB 0.6902 ($0.096) per watt. Recently, Energy China announced the results of its 17 GW 2024 centralized procurement bidding for solar modules (see China Solar PV News Snippets ).
Supply / Mounting System
Clenergy wins 1.1 GW solar mounting system contract: Solar tracker and mounting systems manufacturer Clenergy has won a 1.1 GW solar mounting systems contract from the Chinese energy developer Longyuan Power. The project primarily uses 2 of the company's flagship products: the SolarTerrace MAC ground mounting solution and the digital intelligent tracking system named ezTracker. According to Clenergy, the SolarTerrace MAC ground solution is easy to install and highly compatible, adaptable to complex terrains, and resistant to steep slopes and gullies. The ezTracker system, with its patented multi-point drive, reduces torsional load and maintains aerodynamic stability in extreme weather, making it suitable for various geological and climatic conditions, including agrivoltaics and aquavoltaics applications.
Efficiency
Drinda's pilot TBC cell can achieve 1%-1.5% efficiency improvement over typical n-type cells: In a recent release, Drinda states that it continues to upgrade and iterate TOPCon cell technology, and actively conducts research and development reserves for the industry's cutting-edge next-generation perovskite tandem, BC and other technologies. It says that its pilot TBC cell conversion efficiency can be improved by 1%-1.5% compared with the mainstream n-type cell efficiency. As a platform, BC cell technology can be superimposed with the TOPCon process. Drinda’s BC cell technology can be based on the existing TOPCon production line and upgraded for individual back-end processes and equipment additions. Drinda recently also entered into a land lease agreement with the Sohar Free Zone in Oman, advancing its overseas production plans (see Drinda Secures Land For 5 GW Solar Cell Production In Oman ).
RenShine’s all-perovskite tandem cell achieves 30.1% efficiency; on NREL’s best research-cell efficiencies: Perovskite solar cell manufacturer RenShine Solar has announced that its all-perovskite tandem cell has achieved a record steady-state power conversion efficiency of 30.1%, as published in the latest edition of the Best Research-Cell Efficiencies by the US National Renewable Energy Laboratory (NREL). This all-perovskite tandem cell was developed jointly by RenShine Solar and researchers from Nanjing University, and it received complete certification from the international authority JET in October 2023. Earlier this year, this record was also included in the "Solar Cell Efficiency Tables (Version 64)" established by Prof. Martin Green's team at the University of New South Wales (UNSW) and published by the China Renewable Energy Society PV Committee (CPVS) in the CPVS Best Research-Cell Efficiencies (see Version 64 Of Prof Martin Green Led Cell Efficiency Table ).
Tongwei achieves 24.99% HJT module efficiency: Integrated solar PV manufacturer Tongwei Solar's PV Technology Center announced that its proprietary THC 210 heterojunction (HJT) module has achieved a maximum output of 776.2 W with an optical conversion efficiency of 24.99% on a module size of 2,384 x 1,303 mm, according to TüV testing. The company says that this is a first for HJT where the module power has surpassed 775 W and represents the 9th power and efficiency record for its HJT modules since 2023. The company highlighted its industry-leading GW-scale HJT + Copper Interconnection (THL) solution and ongoing research into silver-free HJT technology. Recently, Tongwei was one of the 16 companies convened by the CPIA for a roundtable on the unhealthy competition in the Chinese solar industry (see China Solar PV News Snippets ).
Company Performance
Autowell's 9M 2024 revenues up 63.27%: Solar cell and module manufacturing equipment supplier Autowell has reported Q3 2024 revenues of RMB 2.50 billion ($352.83 million), a 45.42% increase YoY. The company's net profit attributable to shareholders, excluding non-recurring gains and losses, was RMB 379.54 million ($53.45 million), up 17.11% YoY. For the 9-month period of January to September 2024, Autowell achieved total revenues of RMB 6.92 billion ($975.53 million), up 63.27% over the same period last year. For the period, its net profit attributable to shareholders, excluding non-recurring gains and losses, was RMB 1.15 billion ($162.86 million), up 39.36% YoY. Recently, Autowell announced its plans to adjust various aspects of its business including a shift of its R&D direction to TOPCon-Perovskite tandem equipment (see China Solar PV News Snippets ).
Sungrow’s 9M 2024 net profits up over 5%: Solar PV inverter supplier Sungrow has reported revenues of RMB 49.946 billion ($7.03 billion) for the first 9 months of 2024, a YoY increase of 7.61%. During the period, its net profits were RMB 7.6 billion ($1.07 billion), up 5.21% YoY. For Q3 2024, the company reported revenues of RMB 18.926 billion ($2.66 billion), which was up 6.37% YoY. Its net profit for the period was RMB 2.64 billion ($372.03 million), a 7.96% decline YoY.
Risen’s Q3 2024 net profit down 210.35%: Solar panel maker Risen Energy has reported revenues of RMB 4.44 billion ($624.69 million) for the third quarter of 2024, a 57.31% decrease year-on-year (YoY). The net loss attributable to shareholders after non-recurring items of RMB 672.44 million ($94.46 million) was a YoY decline of 191.72%. For the first 9 months of 2024, the company achieved total revenues of RMB 14.90 billion ($2.09 billion), a 46.81% decline, with a net loss attributable to shareholders after non-recurring items of RMB 1.73 billion ($243.87 million), down 210.35% YoY. Risen recently introduced its latest HJT Hyper-ion Pro module, with 720 W power and 23.5% efficiency (see China Solar PV News Snippets ).
Trinasolar’s Q3 profits drop 204.25% YoY: Solar manufacturer Trinasolar has reported revenues of RMB 20.18 billion ($2.83 billion) for Q3 2024, a decrease of 36.41% year-over-year (YoY). Its net loss attributable to shareholders after non-recurring items was RMB 1.467 billion ($206.06 million), down 204.25% YoY. For the first 9 months of 2024, Trina reported revenues of RMB 63.15 billion ($8.87 billion), down 22.16% YoY, with a net loss attributable to shareholders after non-recurring items of RMB 1.069 billion ($150.12 million), down 120.90% YoY. In the last week of October, Trina’s subsidiary Trinasolar Evergreen launched 4 new Building Integrated Photovoltaic (BIPV) products (see China Solar PV News Snippets ).
JA Solar returns to profit in Q3 2024: Vertically integrated solar module manufacturer JA Solar has reported revenues of RMB 16.99 billion ($2.39 billion) for Q3 2024, a decrease of 11.22% YoY. Its net profit attributable to shareholders after non-recurring items was RMB 224.59 million ($31.54 million), down 87.97% YoY but a turnaround from the loss of RMB 818.89 million ($115.01 million) for H1 2024. The company says this is indicative of its return to profitability in Q3. For the 9-month period from January to September 2024, JA Solar reported total revenues of RMB 54.35 billion ($7.63 billion), with a net loss attributable to shareholders after non-recurring items of RMB 594.30 million ($83.44 million), down 108.45% YoY.
Certifications & Recognitions
G-grade bankability certificate for Trinasolar: Trinasolar has announced that its Vertex n-type bifacial modules have passed the stringent sequential testing by TüV Rheinland and received the Bankability certificate. TüV Rheinland conducted rigorous evaluations based on the advanced Bankability 2 PfG 2940 testing standards. Among the tested modules, Trinasolar says its Vertex n-type bifacial series achieved the highest G-grade, demonstrating exceptional reliability and quality. It said further that the modules excelled in tests such as thermal cycling, load & hail resistance, rear-side UV exposure, and LeTID, showing minimal degradation. Trinasolar is selling its 5 GW solar module production plant in the US to FREYR (see Amid ‘Geopolitical Risks’ Trinasolar Sells Off 5 GW US Solar Module Plant ).
DMEGC Solar receives TüV SüD carbon neutrality certification: Vertically integrated solar module manufacturer DMEGC Solar has announced that its Lianyungang manufacturing base has received the first TüV SüD ISO 14068-1:2023 carbon neutrality verification statement for photovoltaic (PV) manufacturers. TüV SüD has also issued carbon verification and green energy consumption verification statements for its bases in Sihong City, Lianyungang City, and Yibin City, states DMEGC. This certification is issued based on organizational carbon verification and green energy consumption verification according to ISO 14064-3:2019 and GHG Protocol standards. The company says that all 3 bases achieved 100% green electricity consumption during the reporting period. Additionally, the Lianyungang base was verified for carbon neutrality, having implemented appropriate emission reduction measures and offsetting emissions through the purchase and cancellation of international voluntary emission reduction project credits.
JinkoSolar named among Fortune's Most Admired Chinese Companies: JinkoSolar has announced that it has been recognized on Fortune's Most Admired Chinese Companies list for its excellence in management, talent attraction, product quality, social responsibility, and global reach. Known for its PV and energy storage leadership, JinkoSolar claims to have invested nearly RMB 18 billion ($2.54 billion) in R&D since 2021, while achieving ever-higher efficiency numbers for its n-type TOPCon cells. International projects, such as a $1 billion Saudi venture, highlight its global market influence. On the ESG front, JinkoSolar says it integrates sustainability in operations, with 50% green electricity usage and comprehensive carbon reduction across its supply chain. Recently, JinkoSolar reported an improvement in Q3 gross margin over Q2 2024 (see JinkoSolar Shipped 23.8 GW Solar Modules During Q3 2024 ).
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