Astronergy's TOPCon cells achieve 26.9% efficiency; Aiko to build 10 GW ABC cell and module fab in Jinan; China Huaneng & Canadian Solar's IEC standard approved; Drinda reports upbeat results for FY 2023; YONZ Technology's IPO approved; CMA releases solar & wind resources report.
Astronergy's TOPCon cells achieve over 26.9% efficiency: Astronergy announced a breakthrough in its n-type TOPCon solar cells. The 4.0 version of the TOPCon solar cells, incorporating low-corrosion paste + LIF (Laser Induced Firing) technology and multi-layer Poly-Si/POML technology, achieved an average production efficiency of 26.15%. The average efficiency during the R&D trial production exceeded 26.6%, with the highest efficiency reaching 26.9%. The company said that it is officially entering the mass production era with TOPCon 4.0 technology. With the adoption of the latest technology, cell efficiency has been improved by 0.3%-0.5%.
Separately, Astronergy has announced that it has delivered the first order of ASTRO N7s modules. These n-type TOPCon modules are based on its ZBB (zero busbar) technology platform. Since starting ASTRO N7s production in December 2023, the company says its production capacity has reached GW level and its yield rate has reached over 99.6% within one month.
Aiko Solar's 10 GW ABC cell and module facility to come up in Jinan: Solar cell and module manufacturer Aiko Solar has announced that it has signed an agreement to build an ABC cell and module manufacturing facility in Jinan. The phase I of this facility involves building a manufacturing facility with a capacity of 10 GW cells and modules each, for an investment of about RMB 9.8 billion ($1.36 billion). The company plans to raise the funding through a combination of its own funds, government subsidies and external financing.
Earlier this month, Aiko Solar reported achieving 25.15% conversion efficiency for its ABC modules (see Aiko Solar Announces New World Record Efficiency).
IEC international standard proposed by China Huaneng and Canadian Solar approved: The new IEC international standard proposal Coupled-Stress Acceleration Test Sequence for PV Modules and Materials has been officially approved. The proposal was led by China Huaneng's Clean Energy Technology Research Institute, Canadian Solar, and the National Solar PV Product Quality Inspection and Testing Center. Labeled IEC TS 82-2212, this standard provides a standardized comprehensive accelerated stress testing method for modules and small modules. It superimposes ultraviolet factors under each test condition of damp heat, thermal cycling, and damp freeze, more realistically simulating outdoor actual application environments. This method can rapidly reproduce various real outdoor aging failure cases, effectively evaluate the risk of module failure, significantly reduce testing costs, and shorten testing time.
Drinda reports 16% increase in 2023 net profits: Solar PV cell and automotive instrument panel assembly manufacturer Hainan Drinda New Energy Technology Co. Ltd. has announced the financial results for FY 2023. The company's revenues increased 58.65% year-on-year (YoY) to RMB 18.397 billion ($2.56 billion) and a 16% YoY increase in net profits to RMB 832 million ($115.6 million). As of the end of the year, Drinda had a total cell production capacity of over 49 GW (p-type 9.5 GW, n-type 40 GW), which increased 180% YoY. The company shipped 29.96 GW of cells for the year (p-type 9.38 GW, n-type 20.58 GW), which was a 179.43% increase YoY. The company cites capacity expansion and increased proportion of overseas sales, among other things, as the reasons behind its positive performance.
Last month, Drinda had reported that it is expected to become the 1st PV cell company to have both A and H shares listed simultaneously (see China Solar PV News Snippets).
YONZ Technology's IPO registration approved: The China Securities Regulatory Commission has approved the initial public offering (IPO) registration of YONZ Technology. According to YONZ Technology's prospectus, the company's main products include solar module frames, BIPV products, and solar mounting system structural components. The company claims to be one of the leading domestic manufacturers of aluminum alloy solar mounting structural components. Currently, the company has 3 major production bases in China, with an annual production capacity of nearly 80 million sets of solar module frames. YONZ Technology achieved total revenues of RMB 2,499.44 million ($347.34 million) in H1 2023.
CMA releases solar and wind resource report: The China Meteorological Association has released its report on solar and wind energy resources in China for 2023. The report stated that, in 2023, the annual average total horizontal irradiation 1.58% less than the past 30-year average and 1.27% lower than the past 10-year average. In terms of spatial distribution, the country's western region fared better than the central and eastern regions. For wind, the report said that the average wind speed for the year, at a height of 10 meters, was 0.03% lower than the 10-year average.