L R AS Published on Saturday 11 April 2020 - n° 317 - Categories:the manufacturers
Despite the pandemic, PV continues to move forward
During the pandemic, technological advances continue to be made. New capacity expansion plans are launched. New products are installed on production lines.
One of the most discussed topics is
the format of booklets to be adopted. Pre-epidemic tenders in China were based on the M2 format of 156.75 mm, but demand is shifting towards the G1 format (158.75 mm).
In the panel sector, only a few manufacturers adopted the M6 (166mm) format in the first quarter. A large volume of M6 cell capacity installed in the second half of 2019 therefore remained under-utilised. As a result, some cell manufacturers that produced M6 size cells reverted to G1 size. This increased the share of the G1 size to more than 60%, making it the most produced size this year.
A large number of panel manufacturers are considering switching to the M6 format in the second half of the year. This format would become the second most used format by the end of the year.
Zhonghuan Solar and Trina Solar are promoting the G12 (210mm) format. Risen has announced that it will start producing G12 cell panels in the second half of the year. As this format allows for a panel power of 500 W, this size is attracting increasing interest.
To adopt larger formats, cell and module manufacturers need to consider a number of issues, from breakage rates and panel weight limits to the possibility of upgrading older production lines, as well as price/performance ratio and end market acceptance. These issues create uncertainty around larger slabs and the progress and direction of development.
The transition to larger tranches is expected to take place in the second half of this year and will continue in 2021. As the evolution is gradual, there could be two or three consumer formats on the market by the end of 2022.
The pandemic is also disrupting the evolution of formats. Many industrialists are opting for equipment that is compatible up to 210 mm, which therefore makes it possible to produce the M6 or 180 mm format during the transition.
Major integrated manufacturers have become competitive on wafer size. They are forming alliances to develop their own wafer sizes. Depending on their respective weights, this will determine the majority format.
Production capacity utilisation rose to 80% in March, but the development of the pandemic will affect global demand and production in April.
For the moment, the Chinese government has not decided whether the deadlines for connecting to the network should be extended beyond 31 March, 30 June and 31 December. Anticipated demand in China is around 40 GW. Demand from abroad will be slowed down by the pandemic and it is not known when it will be contained.
https://www.pv-magazine.com/2020/04/09/wafer-size-transition-in-the-midst-of-covid-19/
PV Magazine of 9 April
