Solar PV is spreading into new areas like buildings, farms, and water surfaces in the form of building integrated PV (BIPV), agrivoltaics (agri-PV), and floating solar, respectively. Taking a cue from these growing segments, manufacturers are adjusting module designs for different uses and climates.
In a panel discussion during the TaiyangNews Advanced Solar Module Applications 2025 Virtual Conference on October 17, 2025, industry experts discussed the potential and the way forward for advanced solar modules to suit these various application-specific scenarios (see Advanced Solar Modules For Diverse Applications And Environments).
With TaiyangNews Head of Technology Shravan Chunduri as the moderator, the panel comprised JA Solar’s Senior Technical Sales Engineer, Francesco Liuzza, and AESOLAR’s Director of Technology and Innovation, Hamed Hanifi. Here’s an edited version of the panel discussion. The complete recording is available on our YouTube Channel.
TaiyangNews: The topic of today's panel is what's really needed to speed up the dissemination of advanced solar modules. There is a wide variety of products available in the market with different BOMs (bill of materials), that can already address several application scenarios. What parts of today's demand can be really covered with the standard products?
Francesco Liuzza (JA Solar): The standard models are not excluded by the different scenarios that we are talking about. Even the standard modules are designed in order to increase reliability, and they have to fulfill a lot of quality requirements to meet the standards and customer demand. Hence, even though the final price comes down, the quality level goes up.
Standard models can serve a wide range of applications. However, we are now working to educate the market and end users to assess the real conditions of each application, so they can choose the most suitable available solutions –new products that can further raise the already high-quality standards. Overall, standard models remain both compatible and competitive across various scenarios.
Hamed Hanifi (AESOLAR): I agree with Francesco. We also need to consider that, 25 or 30 years ago, PV systems mainly targeted Europe and North America, so modules were designed specifically for those climates. For a long time, one standard design fit most needs.
Today, PV is deployed worldwide, in every region and under diverse conditions. This naturally brings different requirements related to altitude, temperature, and weather. As a result, modules have evolved significantly in terms of their bill of materials.
Modern standard modules can already perform well in many climates because components such as the backside cover, encapsulation materials, and cell technologies have greatly improved. While it’s not about being absolutely better than decades ago, the progress is clearly significant. Still, applying one generalized standard globally remains a challenge.
TaiyangNews: Both JA Solar and AESOLAR represent different companies with very different sizes and integration levels. How important is it for you to focus on application-specific products?
Francesco Liuzza (JA Solar): We are one of the largest manufacturers, mainly focused on standard production for conventional environments. However, the trend now is shifting toward new applications and emerging scenarios. We began this transition a few years ago, and it remains crucial for the future of both our company and the industry.
As you mentioned, exhibitions today showcase a wide range of products and solutions, including those for niche markets. The industry has matured, allowing us to develop and mass-produce solutions tailored to different needs. This process started on a larger scale 2 to 3 years ago and will certainly continue. For us, the scenario is somewhat different.
Hamed Hanifi (AESOLAR): We are smaller in production compared to JA, which gives us greater flexibility. Previously, niche markets were almost negligible, but now they have grown significantly. Segments like agri-PV and floating solar have reached megawatt-scale projects and show TW-level potential.
We are, therefore, strongly focused on these markets. Our customer-oriented approach allows us to remain flexible with orders and to innovate continuously. By combining German engineering with Chinese production efficiency, we are well-positioned to meet these emerging demands.
This combination of agility, innovation, and our business model forms one of our key strengths.
TaiyangNews: Hamed, during the prep call, you said that choosing the right product is important. What are the top 3 guidelines one must follow when choosing the right product?
Hamed Hanifi (AESOLAR): The challenge today is that when people talk about modules, the focus is mainly on power and price – because these are easy to measure. However, reliability is often overlooked, even though it’s equally important.
The first factor to consider is climate. As Francesco also mentioned, different climates require different bills of materials or module designs. For instance, in desert regions, a glass-glass module is a better choice since backsheets tend to degrade faster. In alpine areas, module stiffness is critical to withstand snow or wind loads. Choosing the right encapsulant – such as polyolefin instead of EVA – can also reduce degradation in harsh environments.
The second factor is compatibility with balance-of-system (BOS) components. For example, when using large-size modules on trackers, it’s essential to ensure the tracker adequately supports the module’s backside. We often see cases where trackers support only part of the module, which poses a structural risk and can void warranties. The recent drop in module prices compared to mounting systems has also led to poor installation practices, such as clamping modules only at the corners, which increases mechanical stress.
The third aspect is overall system design and lifecycle cost. Selecting the right module size and configuration for the specific site conditions is key. It’s not just about minimizing the upfront investment but optimizing the levelized cost of electricity (LCOE), which includes factors like degradation and potential damage risks over the project’s lifetime.
TaiyangNews: JA Solar has been developing several application-specific modules. Whenever a new solar application emerges, what are the key parameters you look at before focusing on a particular module design?
Francesco Liuzza (JA Solar): This is the preliminary phase where we evaluate whether to start a project in new scenarios. We maintain close communication with our R&D and product management departments to gather accurate data from the market. It’s essential, especially on a large scale, to define the potential of future applications.
This stage can be challenging because regulations and requirements differ between countries, even for the same type of application. In Europe, for example, the Agri-PV segment is very interesting but not yet standardized. Each country, Italy included, has its own rules and configurations. Just yesterday, at a conference, we discussed how local regulations sometimes create barriers that slow down the adoption of a standardized, investment-friendly solution.
From a manufacturer’s point of view, we aim to identify the most promising and profitable markets and applications. Compared to smaller manufacturers like AESOLAR, we are less flexible in targeting very niche segments, though they are often innovative and valuable. For example, we explored the balcony PV market, which is appealing for DIY users, but currently not profitable for us as it may conflict with our distributors’ interests.
We therefore evaluate each case carefully. Once a target market and scenario are defined, our development process moves quickly. We can design suitable solutions efficiently, as we have done for floating and desert applications. Then, based on market feedback, we assess the cost-benefit ratio and work to educate customers – showing that by focusing on material quality and system design, they can achieve better results for their projects. That, ultimately, is the key factor.
TaiyangNews: Among these non-mainstream applications, which ones are actually major for you?
Francesco Liuzza (JA Solar): The most interesting scenarios right now are not limited to Agri-PV. The desert application, for example, offers significant potential worldwide – even in Europe – since its special glass and anti-dust features can benefit installations in dusty regions. Floating and offshore PV are also very promising and expected to expand considerably in the coming years.
Carports are another area of strong interest. For several years, I’ve seen growing attention in Europe toward solar carports, which make efficient use of parking spaces and can integrate well with electric vehicle charging – creating a powerful combination for the future.
Finally, high hail resistance is becoming a key focus, especially in parts of Europe frequently hit by hailstorms that can severely damage large solar plants. We’re working actively on improving module durability and mechanical load performance to meet these challenging conditions.
TaiyangNews: Hamed, do you see any other areas?
Hamed Hanifi (AESOLAR): Regarding other areas, there are many different applications, and new ones keep emerging every day. We believe that agri-PV and carports will be the biggest segments. Of course, there are also floating systems and others – all requiring customized modules – but those are usually larger-scale projects. Smaller-scale applications, on the other hand, are less attractive for big manufacturers.
As for Alpine regions, we already have a product in our portfolio, mainly due to specific regulations, especially in Switzerland, where such products are in demand. Personally, I don’t like labeling it as 'hail resistant'. The modules can tolerate hail and won’t break easily, but I consider hail more of an insurance issue rather than a warranty or quality concern. However, the modules are designed to handle high snow loads, which is quite important.
At the moment, we are targeting all promising markets. Regarding balcony PV, the statistics are quite interesting – in recent years, the market volume has increased about 755 times. That’s impressive growth, but it also brings challenges, since selling just 2 modules to a single customer comes with high management costs.
Technically, balcony PV modules are quite similar to standard ones, but from a marketing and distribution perspective, they should go through dedicated distributors. It’s not an area where we plan to place special focus from a manufacturing point of view.
TaiyangNews: Material selection is really the key when developing an application-specific module, but what is more critical than materials when developing such modules?
Hamed Hanifi (AESOLAR): I think the main barriers are related to differing regulations and technical standards across countries.
Even within Europe, although we often define common European standards, their implementation is inconsistent. For instance, the Italian fire classification regulation introduced in September refers to the European Standard 13501, which has existed for years but is still not uniformly applied across member states.
Now, when the market demands modules with specific fire resistance classes according to this updated regulation, we may need to adapt materials. However, this requirement itself stems from regulatory inconsistencies, creating new challenges. The problem is further complicated because each country follows different testing standards – for example, Germany, Italy, and Sweden all apply separate national standards.
A similar issue exists in agri-PV. When integrating PV with agriculture, both aspects must be considered. For example, defining how transparent a module should be depends on the type of crop grown beneath it. Some countries have started developing regulations, standards, or best practices for agri-PV, but we are still far from having a unified framework.
Clearer and harmonized regulations would enable us to develop standard products that meet consistent requirements across markets. From our perspective, this regulatory fragmentation remains one of the major barriers.
Fancesco Liuzza (JA Solar): From a production perspective, there are several challenges when developing a new product. Initially, during the R&D phase, our goal is to ensure that everything functions properly. However, once we move to production, the main challenge often lies in the supply chain.
For example, when designing a new PV module that is slightly larger than standard sizes, sourcing the required glass can be difficult. Such materials are not always readily available from suppliers, meaning we must place special orders, wait longer for delivery, and manage additional warehousing. Once production begins, we also need to maintain a careful balance between manufacturing standard products and new modules to ensure sufficient capacity and efficiency.
In our case, for instance, when developing the new shade-resistant module, we had to restrict ourselves to the standard glass dimensions. Although using larger glass could have further improved performance, supply limitations required us to innovate within existing size constraints.
Moreover, some new products, like our Agri-PV or shade-resistant modules, require modifications during production. These may involve changes to specific stages, such as the bussing process, which demands additional engineering work. Despite these complexities, our aim is always to deliver a product with a unique selling point and added market value – while keeping production and supply chain costs as low as possible.
Overall, these production-related factors form the core challenges for us before moving on to later stages such as sales and market acceptance.
TaiyangNews: Is there one thing – a technology or policy mindset – that could truly accelerate advancements in advanced solar modules? Something that could change the entire equation or ecosystem?
Francesco Liuzza (JA Solar): The acceleration of advanced solar modules largely depends on policies and standards. The industry is capable of developing and adapting technologies quickly, but what’s really needed are clear regulations for every application. These should be promoted to enable feasible solutions across different markets.
Take BIPV, for instance. As my colleagues mentioned earlier, educating architects is essential. We need to communicate what the technology can achieve, because the level of understanding about new solar technologies is still limited – not only among architects but across various sectors.
Policies, mindset shifts, and broader knowledge dissemination are key to increasing adoption. The ultimate goal should be to make PV applicable everywhere – embracing distributed generation, not just utility-scale installations. When combined with urban infrastructure, vehicle electrification, and other emerging applications, PV can deliver significant advantages for the future.
Hamed Hanifi (AESOLAR): When we talk about technology, regulation, and mindset, all 3 are equally important. For advanced modules, the first step is to assess market acceptance and viability – whether a product makes sense in terms of cost, scalability, and demand. Sometimes different technologies, like BIPV, overlap and even compete with each other, so it’s essential to identify which solution is simpler, cheaper, and more practical.
From a technological standpoint, advancements are relatively easy to achieve. The real driver, however, is regulation. Take VIPV as an example; vehicle-integrated PV requires compliance with automotive standards, not just PV standards. When such systems are installed on trucks, for instance, regulations on carbon emissions, like those in Switzerland, can actually encourage adoption by creating a tangible advantage.
But beyond regulation, acceptance plays a crucial role. Companies, such as logistics operators, must be willing to adopt and maintain these systems. Once users understand the economic value, as demonstrated in the case of vertical PV, interest grows and the market expands.
In the end, both regulations and customer awareness push the market forward. Many advanced module types, such as carport PV, agri-PV, and floating PV, are still niche segments today, but their potential is huge. Over time, the line between niche and mainstream will blur as these applications mature and become standard solutions.
TaiyangNews: Thank you.