Tongwei adds solar modules to its PV powerhouse – pv magazine International

February 9, 2023 Eckhart Gouras

In response to Joe Chen, Asia-Pacific gross sales director for Tongwei Photo voltaic (TW Photo voltaic), the corporate introduced final 12 months that it’s going to enter the module enterprise so as to add photo voltaic panels to its big selection of PV merchandise. With its push into the modules enterprise, TW Photo voltaic is, in Chen’s phrases, “the one module maker within the high 10 that has its personal polysilicon. That is our benefit.”

And this can be a huge benefit, as a result of TW Photo voltaic can go the polysilicon order to its prospects in a kind that’s extra knowledgeable on the subject of module pricing. With polysilicon costs fluctuating over the previous 12 months, this skill to successfully shield the shopper from massive value swings could be a large profit to prospects attempting to keep away from shocks. on value as they bid on massive tasks in aggressive markets corresponding to utility-scale photo voltaic. within the Center East.

Chen stated main gamers corresponding to ACWA Energy and Masdar approached TW Photo voltaic at WFES to doubtlessly faucet into the advantages provided by a vertically built-in PV provide chain. And TW Photo voltaic is just not solely vertically built-in in a PV product portfolio from high-purity crystalline silicon to ultra-thin silicon wafers, high-efficiency photo voltaic cells, and now high-efficiency modules. It’s really the most important polysilicon producer on this planet, with an annual manufacturing capability of 230 kilotons (KT) protecting three manufacturing bases in Sichuan, Interior Mongolia, and Yunnan in China.

The corporate can also be the world’s largest cell producer, with 70 GW of manufacturing capability in place by the tip of 2022. Its wafer manufacturing capability will quantity to fifteen GW. Chen highlighted the truth that there may be “sufficient wafer capability available in the market” and that “we will purchase from this market” to feed the 70 GW the corporate wants on the cell aspect.

Module manufacturing capability stands at 15 GW by the tip of 2022, a giant leap from the five hundred MW the corporate began when it acquired Hefei LDK’s module manufacturing enterprise in 2013. In response to Chen, noting to start TW Photo voltaic’s foray into the module enterprise.

WFES, a part of Abu Dhabi Sustainability Week, marks the primary huge alternative to showcase the corporate’s module enterprise at a number one worldwide photo voltaic vitality occasion, as MENA is a vital goal marketplace for the Chengdu-based producer. For big scale PV energy vegetation within the Center East, TW Photo voltaic’s monitor file and cell and module applied sciences present a variety of advantages. On account of its vertical integration, the producer can supply M10 and G12 cells. It may well additionally supply a variety of cell applied sciences from mono PERC to n-type TOPCon to heterojunction (HJT).

Chen sees n-type TOPCon changing into a key marketplace for TW Photo voltaic within the Center East, and the producer will be capable to supply this product from April. Its n-type TOPCon bifacial module merchandise ship as much as 700 W of energy, based mostly on 66 G12 cells.

Chen pointed to TW Photo voltaic’s in depth expertise in deploying bifacial panels in large-scale tasks in mainland China. A venture enterprise companion firm has put in greater than 2 GW tasks yearly for the previous 5 years.

At present, all of TW Photo voltaic’s in depth manufacturing footprint is predicated in mainland China. It already leads the manufacturing of polysilicon and cells and its new purpose is to turn into the world chief in module manufacturing throughout the subsequent three years. To get there, it plans to extend module manufacturing from 15 GW per 12 months at present to 80 GW in the midst of this 12 months, and greater than 80 GW subsequent 12 months. This ramp-up can be accompanied by massive ramp-ups forward, from 70 GW to 102 GW on the cell aspect in 2023, and between 130 GW and 150 GW in 2024. On the polysilicon aspect, it would rise from 230 KT to 350 KT in 2023, and between 800 KT and 1,000 KT in 2024. On account of its robust cooperation with Longi and different wafer producers, the wafer manufacturing capability will stay fixed at 15 GW per 12 months .

Whereas MENA affords an ideal surroundings for 700 W bifacial TOPCon modules, Chen additionally desires to advertise the “TW Photo voltaic” module model in European PV markets – particularly Germany, Spain, Holland and Poland. In these markets rooftop purposes will characteristic prominently – a terrific match for the corporate’s all black modules. Different precedence abroad markets are Australia and Brazil.

For these six essential markets, TW Photo voltaic ought to have native workplaces in place within the third quarter of this 12 months, behind robust model constructing actions. As Chen stated: “So this 12 months for abroad markets crucial factor is to point out our model, to let the market know who TW Photo voltaic is – what can TW Photo voltaic supply? “

There may be little doubt that the market will know that TW Photo voltaic is likely one of the main PV producers in China, with a protracted monitor file in upstream manufacturing and PV expertise. It now affords mass manufacturing n-type TOPCon and HJT modules with a 35-year product guarantee and management over a big spectrum of the PV provide chain. That stage of management ought to show engaging to prospects outdoors the Center East as effectively.