Economic Observer reporter Huang YifanSince the end of 2021, there has been a discussion in the PV market about the mainstream technology of next-generation photovoltaic cells. However, at the end of September this year, the leading photovoltaic company LONGi Green Energy (601012SH) officially announced that it would focus on the BC technology route, and the "bombshell" detonated a new round of controversy around the next-generation technology route in the industry.
Currently, N-type cell technology with higher photoelectric conversion efficiency is known as next-generation photovoltaic cell technology as P-type PERC cells approach the efficiency limit.
Specifically, N-type cell technology is mainly divided into TOPCON (tunnel oxide passivated contact solar cell), HJT (heterojunction technology) and BC (back contact cell technology).
On the technical route of photovoltaic cells, Aiko shares (600732SH) and LONGi Green Energy have both chosen the BC technology route, and both are considered by the market to be the companies that have truly brought BC technology to large-scale mass production in the photovoltaic industry.
On December 20, Aiko shares (600732SH) held a press conference to release the world's first high-bifaciality ABC (full name is All Back Contact) module.
A photovoltaic module company told reporters that BC is a platform technology, which can be combined with TOPCON, HJT and other technologies to achieve better efficiency. BC can also be combined with perovskite cells to form tandem cells.
It is understood that the "Stellar Series" products released by Aiko Co., Ltd. this time are based on self-developed ABC high-efficiency components, which are customized for centralized power station scenarios, with a bifaciality rate of up to 70%.
The so-called centralized power station is different from distributed power generation, that is, the layout of photovoltaic modules is concentrated in a larger photovoltaic power station. The above-mentioned person told reporters that the bifaciality of photovoltaic modules refers to a manifestation of power generation efficiency, which refers to the ratio of the ability of photovoltaic modules to generate electricity on both sides and the total area. For example, a PV module with a bifaciality of 70% can generate 70% of the total area on both sides. "The improvement of the bifaciality of photovoltaic modules can effectively improve the power generation efficiency of photovoltaic modules."
At this press conference, Chen Gang, chairman of Aiko Co., Ltd., said that since the positive and negative electrodes, welding strips, insulating materials, and passivation films are all on the back of the battery, they need to be prioritized in terms of structure and performance, so that the light transmittance design of the back of the BC battery and the module usually has to consider whether it is necessary to make a big compromise or even a complete retreat. This is the main reason why BC technology has been mistaken in the industry for many years as a monofacial cell and module product.
Chen Gang said that the bifaciality of cell and module products has been significantly increased to 70%, which has completely reversed the dilemma and limitation that the back side of the BC module does not generate electricity or has a very small contribution to power generation.
Chen Gang believes that this means that BC batteries are not only suitable for residential rooftops, but can be very well applied to almost all other scenarios, including ground power stations.
Aiko told reporters that customers of ground power stations pay more attention to the bifaciality, because the positive and negative power generation are combined, and the comprehensive power of the module is higher.
The above-mentioned photovoltaic module company also said, "The high bifaciality of the module will definitely be more suitable for centralized power stations." Because many centralized power stations are elevated, it is more advantageous to use modules with high bifaciality to generate electricity." In addition, he said, compared to non-BC products, BC products are characterized by a very high power generation gain on the front side of the module. "Even if it is only single-sided, the BC module is stronger than the non-BC bifacial module. Therefore, when the BC module is made double-sided, the advantages will be more obvious."
According to the data provided by Aiko on site, ABC module products will have a power generation gain of more than 15% compared with other types of products during the whole life cycle.
Aiko told reporters that the stellar series products released this time are divided into "Polaris" products for ground scenes and "Sirius" products for tidal flat water scenes.
So far, Aiko's ABC products have covered three major scenarios: centralized power stations, industrial and commercial ("Comet series") and residential ("black hole series").
Aiko said that it is expected that by the end of 2023, ABC modules will have a production capacity of 25GW.