20/07/2023
To sum up, whether it is "P-type" or "N-type", the power generation principles of these two batteries are basically not much different in essence, and they are based on the separation of photogenerated carriers by the "PN junction". Seeing this, everyone must have discovered through the above pictures that in the future, these technologies are not mainstream products, but Topcon and HJT technologies, which have a better yield rate and a higher conversion rate.
TOPCON
01. Comparative advantage one: high efficiency
According to theoretical calculations, the current mass production efficiency of TOPCon mainstream batteries is about 23.7-23.8%, and some battery manufacturers have announced that they have achieved 24.0%+; many companies, including Jolywood, have achieved laboratory efficiency of over 25%. Broad prospects.
02.Comparative advantage two: low cost
Both TOPCon and PERC are high-temperature processes, and can be retained and utilized to the greatest extent. The existing traditional P-type battery equipment manufacturing process, the battery technology and production line equipment of the two are highly compatible. TOPCon can be upgraded from the PERC production line without the need for a new production line. If only the original PERC process is upgraded and transformed, it only needs to increase the investment amount by 50-100 million yuan/GW, and the marginal investment cost is better than other N-type technology routes. We also know in the article just now that the production line of PERC technology is the mainstream application of P-type batteries, so under the pressure of large-scale PERC production line equipment asset depreciation, continuing to upgrade and transform TOPCon equipment will help reduce sinking risk.
In the future, with the reduction of non-silicon costs and the further improvement of yield rate and efficiency, TOPCon will quickly narrow the cost gap with PERC and become a new generation of mainstream products.
03. TOPCon: Industrialization Progress
Due to the large existing production capacity of PERC batteries, the new PERC production capacity in 2019 basically reserves the TOPCon interface for subsequent transformation and upgrading. And at present, the PERC production capacity of many first-tier manufacturers has gradually ceased production.
At present, major companies involved in TOPCON technology include: Longji, Jolywood, JinkoSolar, Trina Solar, Risen Energy, etc., most of which are vertically integrated companies. Among them, Jolywood is one of the earliest companies to deploy TOPCon. The average conversion efficiency of the company's TOPCon battery mass production batches is 24.2%, and some products reach 24.5%.
HJT/HIT
The development process of HJT is very different from the topcon mentioned above. The topcon is upgraded from the "P-type battery" production line. Therefore, in order to save costs, many manufacturers will choose to continue to upgrade and transform TOPCON. What are the advantages of HJT?
01 Advantage: short process flow
The HJT battery process mainly includes 4 links, texturing, amorphous silicon deposition, TCO deposition, and screen printing. (This one is far lower than PERC's 10 and TOPCON's 12-13) This will make new manufacturers who want to enter the market now more inclined to HJT technology.
02. Advantage : low efficiency reduce
According to the data of Minsheng Securities, HJT batteries decay by 1-2% in the first year, and then decay by 0.25% per year, which is far lower than the decay of PERC cells (2% in the first year, and 0.45% per year thereafter). Therefore, HJT The power generation per watt in the whole life cycle of the battery is about 1.9%-2.9% higher than that of the double-sided PERC battery.
Industry experts believe that, compared with other technical routes, (HJT) has better conversion rate and cost reduction space, and is also more suitable for combining with shingled technology. This technology is called the next-generation commercial An important candidate technology for photovoltaic production.
By: Independent Scholar in Photovoltaic Industry - Amy Yue, JULY 20, 2023
