N-type PV Modules Will Meet The Peak Season

Since this year, photovoltaic module manufacturers increased production significantly. Different from the previous increase of P-type PERC module production line capacity, at the present stage, the new production capacity planned by enterprises is mainly focused on N-type modules, mainly represented by TOPcon and heterogeneous. It is expected that the N-type production capacity planned by the head PV module enterprises will exceed 50 million kW this year. In the view of the industry, PV modules are in a period of accelerated technology iteration to N-type modules that are more efficient than P-type PERC conversion and generate more electricity.

N-type technology has been available for a long time. Why did PV module technology accelerate from P-type to N-type this year? What changes will the technology shift bring to the future demand of the PV market? Around these problems, the reporter conducted an interview investigation.

Continuous efficiency breakthrough

P-type component is represented by PERC technology, which is the mainstream technology in the market at present. It has the characteristics of low cost and low conversion efficiency. N-type component expansion technology mainly includes TOPcon and heterojunction, which has the characteristics of high cost and high conversion efficiency compared with PERC technology. Influenced by investment cost and other factors, P-type PERC components have been widely recognized by the market due to their high cost performance, accounting for an absolute preponderant position in global demand. But that is quietly changing.

"Currently, the PV industry is in a window of technological iteration. On the one hand, with the development of P-type PERC components gradually mature, its conversion efficiency is close to the theoretical limit. On the other hand, N-type components are opening up opportunities because their theoretical conversion efficiency ceiling is much higher than P-type PERC components." Chint new energy technology Co., LTD. Vice president Huang Haiyan told reporters.

In the first half of this year, China's photovoltaic crystal silicon cell laboratory efficiency record was broken seven times, five of which were N-type cells, according to data from the China Photovoltaic Industry Association. The highest conversion efficiency of P-type PERC cells is 24.5%, while the highest conversion efficiency of N-type heterojunction cells has reached 26.5%.

Huang Haiyan believes that in the above context, it is expected that the future demand for N-type products will continue to rise, the market will gradually increase. "Currently, our N-type TOPcon battery and component products are in mass production. Compared with PERC products, TOPcon products are competitive in both technical maturity and cost performance. We also have a pipeline of new technologies, such as heterojunctions, that are ready for the future."

The cost keeps going down

With the advantages of N - type products gradually emerged, its speed of advancement is also accelerating. According to the statistics of China Photovoltaic Industry Association, N-type cell expansion projects account for 1/3 of the total capacity of cell expansion. At the same time, enterprises have successively released N-type new products. A number of central enterprises, such as CGN New Energy, Huadian Group, CNNC Huneng and State Power Investment Corporation, have opened N-type component bidding, and the published demand for N-type components has exceeded 4 million kW, a four-fold increase compared with 2021.

The benefits of N-type technology will eventually be reflected in the increase in the yield of power stations. Some enterprises in the industry estimate that if the general formula is applied, the terminal cost of photovoltaic power station system can be reduced by about 6%-7% whenever the conversion efficiency of cell is increased by 1%. In terms of cost, it is expected that in the next two years, the material cost of N-type batteries can be reduced by laminating, and the manufacturing cost can also be further reduced by the localization of equipment.

Huang Haiyan agrees. "The advantage of the N-type TOPcon technology lies in the prospect of decreasing wafer thickness. Currently, the wafer thickness of P-type PERC products is around 150-155 microns, and it may be able to achieve 130-140 microns in the future. "Our vision for N-type TOPcon is to get the wafer thickness down to about 100-110 microns."

At the same time, Huang Haiyan pointed out that the recent fluctuations in PV supply chain prices have also provided impetus for the accelerated industrialization and commercialization of N-type technology. "The cost of silicon in PV modules is high, and as the price of silicon increases, its share of the cost is increasing. The iteration from P-type technology to N-type technology can promote the reduction of silicon material consumption and reduce the cost input. This is also an important reason for the overall improvement in the speed of technology update in the industry this year."

Rising market demand

As countries around the world set carbon neutrality targets, demand for installed photovoltaic power has soared, Huang said. In addition, the development of photovoltaic industry is becoming more mature, and customers' requirements for photovoltaic modules are also in line with higher conversion efficiency and higher power generation, N-type technology will usher in a broader market development space.

"At present, the capital market is optimistic about the new energy industry represented by photovoltaic. "In the context of the overall price fluctuation of the PV industry chain, the investment sensitivity of distributed PV projects is lower than that of centralized PV, so it will usher in greater development." "Both the domestic market and the overseas market show a relatively strong demand for installation," Huang said.

"Especially in overseas markets, where the price of electricity has skyrocketed in Europe and other places due to geopolitical influences, more and more users are looking to reduce their daily expenses by installing PV. At the same time, due to policy changes, markets such as India and Brazil are also showing strong demand, with PV installations rising sharply this year." "Huang Haiyan said.

PVInfoLink, a third-party industry organization, points out that at this year's International Solar show in Munich, Germany, many exhibitors displayed N-type modules. The European market will be the global outpost for N-type components, benefiting from new technologies, high price acceptance, and rising demand for components with a low carbon footprint. In 2023, N-type product shipments are expected to grow significantly.