Unlike traditional photovoltaic modules, which only use front-illuminated illumination, the backside of double-sided modules also has the ability to convert electricity. With the maturing of manufacturing processes and the corresponding cost reduction, double-sided modules have entered the stage of large-scale production. The market size of this new product is expected to reach 3GW in 2018, and the main battlefield is China's photovoltaic leader project.
Double-sided components can be divided into three categories according to the batteries they use. Since the production of double-sided components based on P-type PERC batteries requires only fine-tuning of production equipment of conventional products and correspondingly lower additional costs, such double-sided components will be the first Gain GW level market demand. It will only take 2 months to update the production line of single-sided components based on P-type PERC batteries to the production of double-sided components. This double-sided component corresponds to an additional cost of 2 cents/watt, and The photoelectric efficiency on the back is 75% of the front efficiency.
Field operation data for several photovoltaic projects for more than one year show that double-sided assemblies can generate 13-20% power generation gains. However, the comparative calculations made by organizations reporting these data imply other factors besides the double-sided characteristics. Excluding these effects, we estimate that the double-sided components installed on the untreated land will bring approximately 10% power generation gains to the photovoltaic power plant.
For photovoltaic projects using two-sided assemblies, the system size should be defined in terms of the power of the components containing the backside power generation capability. Higher power of double-sided components helps to reduce structural BOS (Balance of System), EPC (Engineering, Procurement and Construction) ), and the cost per tile for project development. Compared to PV plants using conventional single-sided modules, the use of P-PERC type double-sided modules can achieve a 25% gross margin of self-sale while helping to reduce the system cost per tile by 4%. Correspondingly, double-sided components will be favored by both component manufacturers and project developers.
China's PV leader plans to promote the application of double-sided components. The project's largest developer, National Power Investment Corporation, will explicitly use 924MW of double-sided components in its 1229MW project. Other developers may be interested in this. The new technology is not so enthusiastic, but we expect that 53% of power plants will use double-sided components in the 2018 leader project of a total of 5GW.
a set of data
2 cents
Additional single-watt production costs for duplex components using P-type PERC batteries
10%
Double-sided assemblies installed on unspecified land compared to single-sided assemblies
3GW
Expected shipment of double-sided components in 2018
