Chinese Module Manufacturer Ventures Into Cell Production

• Sunova Solar has ventured into solar cell production with its maiden cell fab in China 
• The 9 GW factory will produce TOPCon solar cells based on 182 mm, 199 mm, and 210 mm sizes 
• Sunova said this is aligned with the company's vision to become a fully integrated solar producer 

Sunova Solar, the Chinese solar module manufacturer, has announced its vertical integration with a 9 GW solar cell factory in China's Yibin city in Sichuan province, devoted to TOPCon technology. 

The cell fab will produce TOPCon cells with 182 mm, 199 mm and 210 mm wafer-sized cells. Its 9 GW capacity is equivalent to rolling out close to 36,000 high efficiency modules/day. 

Sunova operates 5.5 GW solar module capacity, spread between 4 GW in China and 1.5 GW in Vietnam. It is also constructing 4.5 GW new module capacity. The new cell factory is part of its long-term strategy to fully integrated solar producer. However, the company spokesperson shared with TaiyangNews that while the company has no immediate plans for polysilicon or wafer manufacturing, things may change in the future. 

It will enable the manufacturer to reduce dependence on outside suppliers for its high efficiency modules, the company stated. 

"Furthermore, it enables us to serve our customers with advanced technology that we continuously develop" explains Sunova Solar Chairman Mike Song who adds, "additionally, it provides us with enhanced control over our supply chain to ensure production of our modules with non-forced labor materials."  

Powered by a rooftop PV system and a concentrated water recycling system, the cell factory covers an area of 107,000 sq. m., out of which 67,000 sq. m. is used for cell production.  

Sunova's maiden solar cell factory is currently ramping up production to 9 GW annual capacity.