With passivated emitter and rear cell (PERC) technology reaching its peak, the global solar PV manufacturing industry has been working on a replacement technology that can fuel the high efficiency aspiration of the PV cell/module makers. Heterojunction (HJT) is one such option that’s generated tremendous interest among industry stakeholders across the globe.
Day 2 of TaiyangNews’ High Efficiency Solar Technologies virtual conference on December 2, 2020 was dedicated to discussing Heterojunction Cell Technology-Less Production Steps and Higher Output.
During the conference TaiyangNews launched its 2^nd edition of its Heterojunction Solar Technology 2020 Report. Presenting the main findings of the report, our Head of Technology Shravan Chunduri said the active installed annual production capacity of HJT is likely to be about 5 GW by 2020 with production this year being close to 2.5 GW. However, expression of interest to venture into HJT is exceeding 50 GW. The report is available for free download on our website.
During an executive panel discussion following the report launch, participants shared their views on the technology present status and its future relevance.
CSEM PV-Center Director Prof. Christophe Ballif said the interest in HJT has been growing over past few years due to the successful execution of the technology within labs which gives confidence that the same can be replicated within industrial setting as well. At the same time, Ballif added that HJT presents a good combination of metallization, reliability and interconnection pattern making it a possible contender to the current crop.
However, calling HJT as the next generation technology, Toyo Aluminium’s Senior Specialist and Executive Officer of its Core Technology Center, Prof. Marwan Dhamrin pointed out that it is not yet ready for competition with conventionally proven and industrial technologies owing to its cost mainly. Also manufacturers need to still have the equipment in place to ensure the production is seamless in keeping with the market demand.
As a leading global PV module manufacturers, and the first that has invested in GW-scale HJT fab, Risen Energy’s Head of Product Management Yifeng Song admitted that HJT modules are still more expensive than PERC but considering the future belongs to it, it makes sense to gear up towards the same. According to Song, HJT proves itself with good power generation and also since it can also be the platform for next generation PV technologies, for example moving to tandem structures, which will broaden its scope of use.
For Song, HJT would become even more attractive if use of silver paste is reduced to half along with slashing wafer thickness, which would contribute to bringing down the costs. Even bringing down the cost of PECVD can help, which translates into skillful production practices.
Currently, HJT is more suitable for rooftop solar clientele since here end users mainly look for performance and appearance, stressed Ballif, but with economies of scale in production, HJT can be well suited for utility scale projects as well. Risen was showing examples of utility-scale plants using HJT modules
The detailed agenda of TaiyangNews’ High Efficiency Solar Technologies conference is available on our website. Since the conference will continue till December 4, 2020, with a focus on  HJT (Dec. 2), TOPCon (Dec. 3) and IBC (Dec. 4) free registrations are still open here.
At the last day of the conference, on Friday, Dec. 4, 14:00 – 17:00 CET,  Dr. Radovan Kopecek, Managing Director, Advanced Cell Concepts of ISC Konstanz; Dr. Doug Rose, VP Technology Strategy at SunPower, and industry veteran Dr Charlie Ga, CEO at Violet Power will discuss ‘IBC – All Ways Lead to the Efficiency Leading Technology.’
Day 1 of the conference on Dec. 1, 2020 was dedicated to 182mm high efficiency solar modules based on today’s incumbent PERC technology (see Day 1: TaiyangNews High Efficiency Solar Event).
Recordings of the presentations shared during the conference are now available for online viewing on TaiyangNews’ You Tube Channel.