The “Global PV System Technology Trends 2025” conference, hosted by TaiyangNews, concluded with insightful discussions on the future of solar energy. Christian Comes, Head of Business Development Europe at Huasun Energy, was invited to deliver a keynote titled “The End of LCOE: Rethink Your PV Plant Design.”
Comes systematically addressed the potential limitations of profit models based solely on Levelized Cost of Energy (LCOE) for solar plants, and introduced a forward-looking model that emphasizes Time-of-Day (TOD) value. In this context, Huasun’s Kunlun HJT vertical modules offer an optimal installation approach, as vertical PV systems align closely with TOD tariff curves, enabling better value capture during peak pricing hours.
The Dual Challenges: LCOE Limitations and Shifting Electricity Prices
As global PV capacity continues to grow, conventional south-facing PV plants increasingly generate electricity during midday—when energy prices are often at their lowest or even negative in some regions. This mismatch between peak generation and market value is significantly impacting project ROI.
Christian Comes pointed out that in markets with high photovoltaic penetration, LCOE is no longer a reliable metric for assessing the solar projects. He emphasized the need for a new value model—one that aligns energy output with time-based electricity pricing.
Redefining Value with HJT Vertical Systems
To tackle this issue, Huasun proposes an innovative “HJT + Vertical Installation” solution. The vertical installation enables dual-peak power generation, aligning with high-value electricity pricing periods in the early morning and late afternoon.
The Kunlun vertical modules leverage 0BB (zero busbar) cell technology and nearly 100% bifaciality to significantly increase energy yield. With a reduced land area, the system enhances land-use efficiency, while frameless and thin-frame options support diverse installation scenarios.
Additionally, Huasun Kunlun vertical modules offer superior resistance to hotspots and hail, delivering high reliability even in harsh environments, and help maximize returns across the project lifecycle.
Entering the TOD Value Era
Comes emphasized that vertical PV is more than an installation innovation, it represents a shift in how we think about project value. It enables a closer match between generation curves and electricity pricing fluctuations, boosting revenue during high-price periods, while demonstrating the declining relevance of LCOE as the primary investment metric.
In mature markets like Spain and Germany, where existing support schemes have been eliminated or changed when they became too expensive, projects relying solely on midday output face a sharp decline in returns. Kunlun vertical modules offer a more sustainable profit model with lower BOS costs, reduced ESS dependency, and simplified O&M. It drives the crucial global shift in the PV market from "cost-based" to "value-driven."
The solar plants of the future must find a new balance between technology, cost, and market mechanisms. Huasun Kunlun vertical modules are at the forefront of this transformation.
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