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China is leading the global solar market, providing over 80 percent of photovoltaic modules for businesses across the world. Chinese firm LONGi is renowned for its groundbreaking R&D and has set records in photovoltaic technology. As CGTN’s Liu Yang reports, innovation has been fueling high-quality development.
Liu Yang, CGTN, Shaanxi Province: “In the past few years, the world-leading solar tech company, LONGi has set numerous world records for solar cell efficiency, following different technical routes. The most recent was in December, when it broke its own record for the efficiency of Silicon Heterojunction Back Contact, or HBC Cells, referring to the junction where two different materials meet. It’s an example of how new productive forces are transforming the industrial chain through continuous technological innovation.”
Guo Jinwei has worked for LONGi for 14 years, during which he participated in many R&D projects, including the R&D of BC module technology product innovation. He said each photovoltaic breakthrough boosts power generation by at least 10 percent. His involvement in the “module anti-dust design” increased power generation by over two percent.
Guo Jinwei, Head of Product Solutions Dept. of China DBG LONG: “LONGi’s new module technology uses BC batteries and an anti-dust accumulation design. Compared with the previous generation of PERC technology, power generation has increased by nearly 12 percent. BC battery technology places the battery grid on the back to enhance light absorption and improve battery efficiency. However, in industrial production, it is challenging to solve the problem of positive and negative electrode isolation when they are on the same side.”
In the past five years, LONGi has invested over 18 billion yuan in R&D. The Heterojunction Back Contact cell, independently developed by LONGi Green Energy, achieved a cell conversion efficiency of 27.09 percent, setting a new world record for monocrystalline silicon solar cell efficiency. Experts say that in the next five to six years, BC battery technology will become the absolute mainstream of crystalline silicon batteries.
Zhang Haimeng, Vice President, LONGi: “The innovation of photovoltaic technology and the overall reduction of costs are not just one factor at play. China may have formed the most prominent industrial group in this regard. The photovoltaic industry boasts the most complete supporting facilities and the most efficient system for collaborative innovation.”
Diamond wire is an essential material for silicon wafer cutting in the photovoltaic industry. As an upstream supplier to the photovoltaic industry, Yang Ling Metron New Materials has become one of the world’s largest diamond wire manufacturers. Its products are also constantly innovating, resulting in the cost of photovoltaic electricity dropping by more than 80 percent in the past ten years.
“High investment in R&D contributes to the entire industry and society. LONGi has always talked about persisting in doing difficult and right things for a long time. For example, the first lighthouse factory we built in the global photovoltaic industry uses green manufacturing to create more customer and social value,” added Zhang Haimeng, Vice President, LONGi.
Experts point out that the photovoltaic industry chain is transforming into new productivity.
“Experts say the top priorities for the development of the photovoltaic industry are improving battery efficiency, increasing investment in new materials, and reducing photovoltaic electricity costs. After more than 10 years of hard work, solar energy has become the cheapest source of electricity in most countries around the world. Chinese photovoltaic companies are responsible for manufacturing most of the world’s photovoltaic products, making a major contribution to meeting energy transformation and emission reduction requirements. And this trend will continue as the transition to global net-zero emissions accelerates,” added Liu Yang.” |
