TaiyangNews Head of Technology, Shravan Chunduri, spoke to the CTO of BAJsolar, Dr. Haofeng Lu, as part of the TaiyangNews & SNEC 2024 – Solar Leadership Conversations series. The interview shed light on BAJsolar’s rapid rise in the solar industry and its strategic technological advancements.
BAJsolar, a subsidiary of Bound Holding Group, was founded in 2022. Bound Holding Group itself was established in 1993 and went public in 2011. “We focus on advanced n-type technology,” Dr. Lu explained. “Today, we have achieved a 10 GW solar cell capacity for TOPCon and 4 GW module capacity under construction.”
Despite the apparent disproportion between cell and module capacities, Dr. Lu clarified, “We define ourselves as a TOPCon solar cell manufacturer. Maintaining a reasonable module capacity meets the needs of various applications.”
Discussing technology, Dr. Lu highlighted their current average TOPCon cell efficiency from mass production, reaching an impressive 26.5%, which is industry leading. He detailed pathways to further enhance cell performance, including laser-localized patterning and edge preservation after cell slicing. He also emphasized the inevitable shift towards a bifacial passivated contact structure.
On the module front, BAJsolar offers two main rectangular wafer designs: the 210R (182 x 210mm) and the 182 x 183.2mm. “Using these sizes helps us slightly increase output and improve container utilization up to 98.5%,” Dr. Lu noted.
Addressing market focus, Dr. Lu identified Europe and South America as primary markets for their module products, aiming to meet diverse application needs and provide integrated system solutions.
Looking ahead, Dr. Lu shared BAJsolar’s vision for the next four years: “We aim to stay ahead in TOPCon n-type generation products by boosting performance. We also plan to develop module products for different scenarios, such as lightweight modules for weak rooftops and floating PV systems along the coast.”
Furthermore, Dr. Lu touched on the future of solar technology, envisioning a shift towards back contact and the integration of TOPCon and HJT structures for better preservation, higher efficiency, and cost-effectiveness.
When asked about tandem cells, Dr. Lu acknowledged the pioneering research on perovskite and the challenges of manipulating hybrid materials for stable, large-scale production. BAJ solar is actively exploring tandem cells, having achieved over 30% efficiency in preliminary tests. Dr. Lu anticipates it will take 3 to 5 years to realize mass production of these advanced cells.
Wrapping up the conversation, Dr. Lu expressed optimism about BAJ solar’s future, emphasizing their commitment to innovation and market expansion.
Click here to watch the full interview with Dr. Haofeng Lu on the TaiyangNews YouTube Channel.
