Solar cell and module manufacturer POPSOLAR has unveiled its next-generation BC (Back Contact) cell. The company states the BC cell resolved issues such as cell leakage, concentric circles, and edge blue discoloration. The new cell features a green cleaning process that reduces nitrogen emissions and production costs. Designed for versatility, it is particularly suited for the flexible portable solar panel market. Customization options include various wafer sizes, cell dimensions (e.g., 166 × 166, 182 × 183.75, 182 × 210), and busbar configurations to meet diverse customer needs. The BC cell achieves a conversion efficiency of up to 25.7%, with silver consumption over 10% lower than that of TOPCon cells.
In August this year, POPSOLAR announced the first shipments of the high-efficiency BC cells from its Taixing manufacturing base (see China Solar PV News Snippets).
Vertically integrated solar manufacturer TCL TZE has been upgraded to a BBB rating from BB in MSCI ESG ratings for 2024. TCL TZE says it demonstrated significant improvement across weighted average scores for all topics compared to 2023. It performed exceptionally in areas such as clean tech opportunities, supply chain labor management, and corporate behavior, with many scores leading its global industry peers. Notably, TCL TZE ranked first in supply chain labor management among China’s domestic photovoltaic companies.
Recently, LONGi also secured a BBB ESG rating from MSCI (see China Solar PV News Snippets).
Leader in solar module encapsulation HANGZHOU FIRST has released some updates on the progress of its encapsulation film manufacturing projects. According to the company’s announcement, its 1 billion m2 High-Resolution Dry Film Project in Jiangmen City, Shandong Province, has achieved its designed production capacity and is now operational.
The main construction of its 250 million m2 High-Efficiency Solar Encapsulation Film Project in Vietnam is complete, and partial capacity has been deployed. However, adjustments in auxiliary facilities have delayed full operational status, pushing completion from December 2024 to December 31, 2025.
The company financed these projects with RMB 3.03 billion ($426.56 million) raised through convertible bonds in 2022. Other projects include a 250 million m2 solar film project in Jiangmen City, and a similar-scale solar encapsulation film project in Sriracha, Thailand.
China’s energy developer China General Nuclear Power Corporation’s (CGN) 600 MW solar project in Laizhou City, Shandong Province, has been fully grid-connected. The project integrates 244.2 MW/488.4 MWh of independent energy storage, covering 6.5 km2 of salt pans. The “salt-photovoltaic hybrid” model is said to maximize resource utilization, combining solar power generation above the salt pans, brine evaporation on the surface, and aquaculture below the water.
Grand Sunergy has supplied bifacial double-glass modules for the project. The company highlighted that sunlight reflection from brine onto the modules’ rear side enhances power generation by an additional 2%-3%.
Leading energy project developer China Huaneng has signed an equity increase agreement for its subsidiary Huaneng New Energy Co., Ltd. with 5 entities, marking the company’s largest equity financing to date and the largest private equity deal in China's new energy sector this year. Contributors to the RMB 15 billion ($2.11 billion) funding include Guoxin Development, China Post Life Insurance, Taiping Life Insurance, the National Green Development Fund, and CSG Energy Innovation. The funds will accelerate Huaneng’s green transition and support the development of a new energy-based power system.