Astronergy’s ASTRO N n-type TOPCon PV modules demonstrated a 1st-year degradation of just 0.66%. (Photo Credit: Astronergy) 
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China Solar PV News Snippets: Astronergy’s TOPCon Modules Show 0.66% 1st-Year Degradation & More

DAS Solar earns TÜV Nord certification; SPIC awards 12.5 GW solar module contracts; Haida Solar cancels IPO; NEA identifies issues in distributed PV grid connection; Solar accounts for 14.76% of China’s green certificates.

Vikranth

Astronergy’s ASTRO N TOPCon modules achieve 0.66% 1st-year degradation

According to a CPVT report, Astronergy’s ASTRO N n-type TOPCon PV modules have demonstrated a 1st-year degradation of just 0.66%. This is significantly below the industry average of 1%, says Astronergy. The modules feature advanced double AR coating glass and a high bifaciality rate, maximizing light absorption and minimizing reflection loss. Boasting a temperature coefficient of -0.29°C, the company says these modules ensure minimal heat loss and superior power generation. Tested under optimal solar conditions in Ningxia, China, the degradation ranged from 0.53% to 0.79%. Recognized at SNEC 2024 by RETC as the 2024 Overall Highest Achiever, Astronergy claims its modules excelled in multiple tests, including LETID and PID resistance. The company plans to produce 76 GW of modules in 2024, with TOPCon products making up 91%.

Late last month, the Chint Group subsidiary announced that it has begun mass production and shipments of its large-size ASTRO N ZBB 78-cell ZBB-TOPCon PV modules at its Fuyang base (see China Solar PV News Snippets).

DAS Solar receives TÜV Nord Witness Verification Certificate

Solar cell and module supplier DAS Solar has announced that it has been awarded the TÜV Nord Witness Verification Certificate. According to DAS Solar, its outdoor photovoltaic power station verification laboratory is among the most advanced in the PV industry, equipped with comprehensive testing equipment. This includes tests for module appearance, maximum power determination, insulation, wet leakage current, PID, hail, LID, UV, humidity freeze, and thermal cycling, among others. The company says the lab has received various accreditations, including CNAS, TÜV Nord, TÜV SÜD, and IECEE CB-Scheme's CTF2 from TÜV Nord. DAS Solar has established verification power stations in Mohe, Yantai, Hainan, and Zhangzhou in China to gather generation data from different climates, aiding product development and performance optimization.

Earlier this month, DAS Solar announced that its DAON 4.0 module has achieved a full-area module conversion efficiency of 24.02% (see China Solar PV News Snippets).

DAS Solar has been awarded the TÜV Nord Witness Verification Certificate. (Photo Credit: DAS Solar)

SPIC selects 8 winners for 12.5 GW solar module tender

State Power Investment Corporation (SPIC) announced the results of its 2024 centralized procurement tender for solar modules, with 8 companies securing contracts. The winners include Huayao PV, DAS Solar, LONGi, JinkoSolar, GCL-SI, Astronergy, Tongwei Solar, and SPIC New Energy. The tender covers 4 types of solar modules:

·         100 MW of p-type bifacial modules with power ratings of 545 W and above, with bid prices between RMB 0.66 ($0.0926) and RMB 0.67089/W ($0.0941/W) and an average price of RMB 0.66549/W ($0.0934/W)

·         7.1 GW of n-type TOPCon modules with power ratings of 585 W and above, priced between RMB 0.66 ($0.0926) and RMB 0.75/W ($0.1052/W) with an average of RMB 0.706925/W ($0.0992/W)

·         4.3 GW of n-type TOPCon modules with power ratings of 710W and above, with prices ranging from RMB 0.6877 ($0.0965) and RMB 0.75/W ($0.1052/W) and an average of RMB 0.71925/W ($0.1009/W)

·         1 GW of HJT and BC modules, with bid prices from RMB 0.7608 ($0.1067) RMB 0.82/W ($0.1150/W) and an average price of RMB 0.7886/W ($0.1106/W).

Haida Solar withdraws IPO application

Solar glass manufacturer Haida Solar and its underwriters have withdrawn their application for an IPO, leading to the termination of its listing review by the Shanghai Stock Exchange. According to the company's prospectus, Haida Solar specializes in the research, production, and sales of solar module glass, BIPV glass, and other specialized glass. Its major clients include Trinasolar, JinkoSolar, JA Solar, and SunPower. As per its December 2022 prospectus, Haida Solar achieved revenue of RMB 9.08 billion ($1.27 billion) in 2021 and RMB 6.44 billion($903.53 million) for the first half of 2022, with net profits of RMB 814.64 million ($114.28 million) and RMB 507.97 million ($71.26 million), respectively.

NEA finds 7 common issues in distributed PV grid connection

The National Energy Administration (NEA) has released a notice highlighting 7 common issues in the grid-connection process for distributed solar PV projects. These include delays by local power supply companies in processing grid connections, illegal restrictions on project access to the grid, non-standard procedures for name change and transfer services, failure to provide record-filing services to residential PV users, assigning project access system construction to the owners for self-investment, delays in payment settlements for distributed PV electricity, and illegal record-filing practices. The NEA emphasized that these issues have hindered the growth of the distributed PV market, urging local governments and grid companies to address and rectify these problems.

Solar power accounts for 14.76% of China’s green certificates in September

A recent data release by China’s National Energy Administration (NEA) shows that China issued a total of 477 million green certificates in September, with solar power accounting for 70.44 million certificates, or 14.76% of the total. Wind power accounted for 111 million certificates (23.17%), conventional hydropower for 256 million certificates (53.66%), biomass power for 39.52 million certificates (8.28%), and other renewable energy sources for 620,000 certificates (0.13%).

As of the end of September 2024, the cumulative number of green certificates issued in China reached 2.319 billion. Of these, solar power accounted for 484 million certificates (20.86%), wind power for 793 million certificates (34.19%), conventional hydropower for 885 million certificates (38.16%), biomass power for 156 million certificates (6.71%), and other renewable energy sources for 1.9 million certificates (0.08%).