l'Actualité du Solaire

PV Magazine of 8 May

NDLR EDF may well say that this is the largest self-consumption operation in France, but the size of the operation is very small.

Photon of May 10th.

.
* Renewable energies will supply 18% of the United States' electricity in 2019.

Photon of 9 May.

.
* 2nd ? solar power plant project in Germany without subsidy

Baywa r.e. plans to sell the project after construction while ensuring operation and maintenance.

PV Magazine of 10 May

Editor's note After building a solar power plant without subsidies in Spain, Baywa r.e. wants to repeat the experience in Germany. He is doing this with a small project: he will not be able to achieve a particularly low average cost of electricity.

.
* The United Kingdom plans to raise the VAT rate from 5% to 20%.

PV Magazine of 8 May
.
.
THE PRODUCTS

* A new 3D rear contact cell with a micro-grooved surface

The cell was created by covering the opposite walls of the micro-grooves with different electrical contacts and then filling the grooves with a semiconductor that can be processed in solution. This type of cell architecture can be achieved with fewer production processes than conventional silicon-based cells. It can be manufactured with materials other than silicon. It could also reduce optical losses in the device while eliminating costly transparent conductive oxides.

These cells would have a promising efficiency: 7% of the sunlight that falls on a single photovoltaic micro-groove device is directly converted into electrical energy - already a third of what the most efficient but expensive solar cells produce today.

Power Roll says this cell technology costs five times less to manufacture than silicon PV cells, 10% less than other flexible devices and 40% less to transport and install. Hardware requirements are low. Its production cost is 10 times lower than that of silicon PV. The return on investment is less than half that of silicon PV.

https://www.pv-magazine.com/2019/05/07/uk-scientists-build-new-3d-solar-architecture/

PV Magazine of 7 May

Editor's note Do all these fine statements correspond to reality? If it's true, the economic advantages make us believe that this new cell will soon find its way into commerce. On the condition that we find an industrialist who agrees to embark on this adventure as there are so many obstacles (commercial, structural, financial, etc.) to launching a new activity and with a new product.

.
* When will the 23% cells be adopted?

The new Les Meilleurs programme began on 4 March 2019. The plants will be located in Shanxi province. The production capacity is set at 5 GW. The selected panels have the following characteristics :

- The facilities all use monosilicon panels and PERC cells.

- N-type cells account for one third of the cells used; cell efficiency in these projects is over 23% on average.

- Two-sided modules have become the norm; the efficiency of the panels used is over 20% on average.

Between 2017 and 2018, manufacturers have achieved a conversion efficiency of 21.8% with mass-produced P-type single-cells. The efficiency increased by 0.5% in one year. The average conversion efficiency of Type N mono-Si PERT cells also increased to 21.5% in 2018.

JinkoSolar achieved 24% with P-type or N-type cells in its laboratory tests. Similarly, Trina Solar has exceeded the 400 W

Monosilicon-PERC should represent more than half of the market in 2019. Manufacturers will explore the benefits of SE, which is likely to be the next cell enhancement technology. It will become widespread from 2020 onwards.

The production capacity of N-type cells has increased, but the ratio with the production capacity of P-type cells remains approximately constant, as the latter have benefited from technological advances.

The bifacial PERT cells of type N and the HJT cells are now at the volume production stage of their development :

- In China, N-type technology has yet to become widespread. Only one of the top five is a Chinese company.

- Only three of the top five are capable of exceeding the production capacity of 1 GW. This means that there is still a lot to be done for technical improvements in suppliers' production processes.

- LG Electronics remains the leading supplier of N-type cells in terms of production capacity. The Korean company has a strategy of technological diversification. It is engaged in small-scale capacity expansions to avoid overcapacity. It has 400 MW, 600 MW and 600 MW production capacity for N-type cells for HJT, N-PERT and IBC cells, respectively.

Figure 1: Distribution of total N-cell production capacity by manufacturer, 2019 (E)

The future development of N-type cells depends on the technological potential and market acceptance. Currently, Type P products are generally preferred to Type N products with the same specifications because the overall production cost of the latter is still too high. Type N cells have another advantage, that of low sensitivity to LIDs, which increases the conversion rate of the panels. Manufacturers will have to demonstrate this advantage by the volumes produced.

https://www.energytrend.com/research/20190510-13870.html

EnergyTrend of 10 May.

.
* Persistent HJT and shingle cell problems

If the conversion limit for traditional silicon cells is 29%, the chances of new technologies to increase cell efficiency are reduced. New technologies such as heterojunction (HJT) and shingled panels have been identified through the Best of the Best program.

The China PV Industry Association (CPIA) reports that monosilicon panels reached 305 W in 2018, PERC plus BS multicrystalline panels reached 295 W, and HJT panels reached 320 W. Shingled panels have an additional 20 W.

Technology and production costs hinder the development of HJT cells. About 20 manufacturers are engaged in research & development or production of HJT cells. Most of them have at best reached the test phase or pilot line. The world production capacity of HJT cells is expected to reach 6.24 GW in 2019. Four out of the current top five suppliers of N-type cells are producing HJT cells.

CSC Financial compared the cost price of electricity from a 200 MW plant. The initial cost of HJT panels is 10% higher than that of PERC panels. HJT, on the other hand, has higher efficiency and low vulnerability to degradation. These advantages ultimately allow HJT modules to outperform not only the amount of electricity generated over the operating life of the plant, but also the amount of electricity generated over the lifetime of the plant.These advantages ultimately allow the HJT modules to not only surpass the amount of electricity generated over the operating life of the PERC modules, but also to achieve near parity with PERC modules in the LCOE system (average cost of electricity produced).

Installed capacity of new technologies :

The development of HJT technology is constrained by the rising cost of production and slow progress in domestic production (in China). Fierce competition from existing technologies is one of the reasons why HJT has not been widely adopted. In particular, the manufacture of HJT cells requires equipment exclusively dedicated to this technology. HJT will remain in a position of inferiority to PERC technology.

The PV industry seems more inclined to adopt shingle cells. At PV Expo Japan 2019, 16 manufacturers presented such panels. However, their availability is limited by the high cost of processing equipment and patent restrictions. Semi-cut cells, which resemble shingle cells but leave spaces between cell interconnections, have been very popular in the industry this year. Compared to the half-cut process, the shingle process is underdeveloped in terms of production capacity and volume. Global production capacity for shingled panels will reach 14 GW in 2019 and the market share of this technology will reach almost 10%.

Global production capacity for shingles (yellow) and half-shell panels (green)

https://www.energytrend.com/research/20190508-13864.html

EnergyTrend of 8 May

Editor's note It is surprising that Chinese manufacturers are adopting similar technologies to evolve and increase the conversion rate. This attitude does not call into question technological improvements, but their dose is low. As they control world production, they impose their rhythm and above all their choice of technology. In theory, a fundamental change could take place outside China, but the new product would meet all the obstacles to impose itself: mass production, commercial networks to set up, buyers to convince, and of course building companies. This would take several semesters. Chinese manufacturers would quickly adapt their prices to make the new product unsaleable, and during this time would try to copy the new product... The Chinese hold on a product of the future is dangerous for the future. It is believed that they can be left with a monopoly on production. There will be an alert that will wake up the leaders of the different big countries.

The Energy Services segment, which includes residential and commercial operations in North America, was $241.7 million, compared to $255 million in the same quarter last year (residential provided $167 million in sales and earned 9.000 customers, bringing the number to 275,000; commercial activity earned revenue of $75 million with 25 MW deployed).

The Technology segment, which includes manufacturing and international activities, had sales of $231 million compared to $252 million a year ago. It produced 294 MW and shipped 455 MW.

The non-GAAP net loss was $57 million compared to a loss of $28 million a year ago.

In an interview, CEO Tom Werner said that SunPower's restructuring efforts are bearing fruit. There was a gradual alignment of production and installation activities. The company has introduced new high-efficiency solar panels to meet the needs of residential and commercial installations, the company's current target. It will also provide storage and management software. This is the policy introduced in mid-2017. Since then, various assets have been sold: its large power plant construction projects, its micro-inverter business, its portfolio of residential leases in the United States, and will soon sell its portfolio of commercial power plant leases.

GreenTech Media of May 9

Editor's note The CEO's optimism is matched only by his omission of previous forecasts. While the new strategy of focusing on residential property was defined 15 months ago, sales are down on the previous quarter. The group's net loss doubled over the beginning of 2018. Finally, the comparisons are not homogeneous, either we don't make any, or we compare with the previous year, or with the previous quarter, probably because it is the most favourable past! While waiting for production to be aligned with the facilities, the company is divesting itself of its saleable assets, but we don't see any improvement. Where is the turnaround so much announced by the CEO?

Let us recall that Sunrun, the residential installer, has increased its turnover by 35% and the installed volume by 27%. And SunPower?

.
* Has Panasonic begun to withdraw from panel production?

The reason for this agreement would be the desire to increase the competitiveness of the photovoltaic activity by means of new innovations in heterojunction techniques.

Panasonic must turn around its photovoltaic business, which has suffered an impairment of fixed assets in the solar business.

PV Magazine of 9 May

Editor's note These disposals seem to herald Panasonic's withdrawal from the photovoltaic industry. It was one of the first to adopt heterojunction. This technology seems to be entering the common domain with more and more companies adopting it. The losses of this activity indicated that a sustainable solution had to be found. Withdrawal was chosen. One may wonder if the American factory will have a long life because if there is no more research & development, how can the processes be perfected and remain competitive?

.
* In the first quarter, Solaredge's results were mixed

For the second half of the year, sales could be between $310 and $320 million.

Photon of May 8

.
* In the first quarter, SMA recorded a loss

The order book increased by 33% at 31 March to €233m, which should lead to a profit in the second half of the year. The company is maintaining its 2019 target: sales between €800 and €880 million, positive EBITDA of €20 to €50 million.

Photon of 10 May

Editor's note Should we focus on the growth of the order book or on the figures for the quarter? Regarding the order book, it is not known whether the contracts were concluded with a profit margin. As far as the figures are concerned, the company is increasingly vulnerable, judging by the operating loss, which reached 6.3% of turnover. This is far too much for a stable activity ...

.
* New business strategy for its solar branch in Tesla

Tesla's solar installations have plummeted from 650 MW commissioned in 2016, to 325 MW in 2017 and 208 MW in 2018. The gross margin of the solar and storage business in the first quarter of this year fell to 2.4%.

Analysts are unconvinced by this system: For many consumers, the overall savings from a solar system are greater than the initial price. It is not yet clear whether Tesla's new pricing will generate savings comparable to those of its competitors. Installers cite utility policies on net metering, strong competition in the market, and the lack of need to install a solar system as barriers.

GreenTech Media of 30 April

Editor's note Tesla's multiple changes in business strategy make you dizzy. The new system is unattractive because it guarantees that for twenty years you will earn nothing. What is the point of installing solar panels? Another criticism is that the interest rate is far too high for the current banking context, which makes the commercial proposition unattractive. At the end of one or two quarters, it is certain that Tesla will once again change its business formula..

.
* Sunrun nibbles away at power companies' positions

The company /Green Univers of 10 May.

.
* Floating plants with adjustable panels