The National Energy Administration implemented a total of three batches of "PV Leader" project from 2015 to 2017, and their scales are getting larger. The third batch of "PV Leader" project access threshold has made some changes: conversion efficiency of multi-Si and mono-Si PV module in the application leader base should reach more than 17% and 17.8% respectively, conversion efficiency of multi-Si and mono-Si PV module in the technology leader base should reach more than 18% and 18.9% respectively, the degradation rate of multi-Si PV module within one year should be not higher than 2.5% and the degradation rate within the following years not higher than 0.7%. The degradation rate of mono-Si PV module within one year should be not higher than 3%, and the degradation rate within the following years not higher than 0.7%.
The technology in the PV industry upgrade rapidly. The module conversion efficiency determined by the first batch of "Leader" project is now the threshold for market access. Enterprises actively carry out research and large-scale applications of high-efficiency technologies are the fundamental to maintain their competitiveness. N-type cells with long lifetime of minority carriers and no LID and other natural advantages, makes it an inevitable choice for high-efficiency cell technology route, it is also a new generation cell of large-scale production in PV industry. N-type cells mainly include N-PERT/N-PERL, IBC, HJT and TOPCon.
JOLYWOOD, YINGLI, LINYANG, HT-SAAE, etc. have achieved large-scale production of N-PERT batteries; TSL has built IBC pilot line and can be small-scale shipments, JOLYWOOD planned 10GW IBC cell project, is about to construct in Quzhou, Zhejiang; JINERGY, CIE, HANERGY, GOLD STONE, etc HJT have been mass production and its scale is expanding, GCL, NSP, etc are planning to construct HJT; TOPCon has not yet achieved mass production in China, but JOLYWOOOD, YINGLI, LINYANG, etc already have that technology. ASIACHEM research shows, as of January 2018, China has a total N-type high efficiency cell capacity of about 3.5GW and is expected to reach 7.5GW by the end of 2018.
Conductive pastes, the key auxiliary materials for crystalline silicon solar cells, have a significant impact on the photoelectric conversion efficiency and cost of cell. N-type bifacial cell silver paste consumption is higher than the P-type conventional cell and P-PERC cell, and HJT solar cell needs to use low-temperature silver paste, silver paste consumption is much higher. The growth of N-type cell capacity in 2018 will bring new market opportunities to the conductive paste industry.
ASIACHEM thinks PV industry's pursuit of high efficiency and low cost will never stop. N-type high-efficiency cell technology and PERC technology are the most industrialization potential efficiency improvement means, will coexist for a long time in the market. Silicon solar technology continues to upgrade, N-type HE cell capacity gradually released, can the domestic silver company seize the opportunity, N-type silver paste can heavy volume?
