Trina Solar Featured in Independent Report: Higher Value Large-Format Modules Will Gain About 80% Market Share This Year – EQ Mag Pro

CHANGZHOU , China : Ultra-high-power modules have rapidly penetrated the market, following a trend that has emerged in the photovoltaic equipment industry since last year. The new technology market report published in February by PV InfoLink, a division of the independent research agency InfoLink, contains detailed data on the size and development of cells and modules, as well as trend forecasts. According to the report, switching to large format modules is very attractive in terms of industry chain, cost reduction, production capacity and market share.

Market share of large format inserts exceeds 50%, and 210 mm inserts are gaining popularity

According to the PV InfoLink report, which examines the production capacity of leading large format wafer manufacturers, they have started to increase their production ratio given the cost advantages at each stage. The completion of old projects has led to a rapid decline in total demand and production of 158.75 mm (G1) format wafers and cells since the third quarter of 2021. The market share of 166 format wafers mm (M6) and other small size inserts has dropped drastically as a result of the arrival of large format inserts.

According to the report, this accelerated shift in favor of large-format inserts during the second half of last year enabled this category to obtain more than 50% of the market share in the third quarter and to continue its growth . As the report indicates, the market share of large format wafers (including 182mm and 210mm wafers) is expected to reach 79% this year. Additionally, the market continues to evolve with 210mm inserts, which have proven to be a popular choice with a steadily growing market share.. Taking wafer manufacturer Zhonghuan Semiconductor as an example, the proportion of 210mm wafers rose from 43% to 72% between the first and fourth quarters of last year.

By the end of last year, production lines for cells accommodating up to 182mm and 210mm wafers reached 266 GW, and large-format modules reached 292 GW . Due to equipment compatibility, the production capacity of 210mm modules has exceeded 170GW, which is larger than that of 182mm modules. According to the report, the production capacity of large format cells and modules is expected to increase year on year by 2025. In Southeast Asia, Trina Solar has benefited from a production capacity of 210 mm modules. Considering the favorable external policies and developing markets, a number of module manufacturers are expected to expand their production capacity within many locations around the world.

According to PV InfoLink’s previous report, by the end of last year, more than 50 module manufacturers had high-power large-format module production capacity. Among them, more than 30 manufacturers had been able to mass-produce modules containing cells whose format reached up to 210 mm, a proportion which continues to increase. Most of the new wafer production capacity is for large format wafers. This increases from year to year in order to ensure supply.

There are also cost advantages, since current silicon-free 166mm PERC cells cost about 0.2-0.23 yuan per watt, while large format cells cost about 0.17-0 .21 yuan per watt. The maturity of this technology, the introduction of large format cells and their improved efficiency and performance have been the main factors in reducing the cost of large format PERC cells. According to the PV InfoLink report, the reduction in costs brought about by the large format has led to an expansion in the production capacity of PERC cells . Last year, new wide-format PERC production capacity exceeded 170 GW, which also led to a major reduction in the market share of polycrystalline cells and N-type cells.

Here is the statement of Trina Solar: “If we take the example of the ultra-high power module based on PERC technology, according to the Fraunhofer ISE study carried out in Germany, the system value of the G12 670 W single-sided and double-sided modules of the 210mm Vertex series is significantly higher than that of the M10 540W and M10 585W modules, and the levelized average energy cost is reduced by up to 7.4%. »

With superior reliability and value advantages, large format modules improve the safety and efficiency of the entire photovoltaic system, reduce the levelized cost of energy, modernize the industry and accelerate transformation on a global scale.