The Most Used Type of Multicrystalline Products Is The P-Type

N-type monocrystalline solar cells which can achieve higher converison efficiencies than the conventional P-type multicrystalline solar cells have been gaining attention from solar firms as the market continues to demand for products with higher conversion efficiencies. The most used type of multicrystalline products is the P-type with maximum conversion efficiency of 17.4% and solar firms have been trying hard to increase its efficiency. On the other hand, P-type monocrystalline silicon wafers are estimated to reach conversion efficiency of 19% before firms start to face technological difficulties. However, P-type monocrystalline silicon wafers have higher production costs and suffer more power loss during the module phase. The N-type products do not suffer the power loss problem and are able to exceed 20% of conversion efficiency. China-based Comtech plans to have production of N-type reach one-third of total capacity in 2011 and one-half of total capacity in 2012. Comtech has been said to secure orders from US-based SunPower. China-based Solargiga Energy Holdings indicated the production of N-type solar products has reached 25% of its total capacity in 2011 and conversion efficiency has reached 20-23%. According to Solargiga Energy Holdings, 60% of shipments in the first half of 2011 were sent to overseas markets. Solargiga noted that China accounted for 34.5% of shipments, while US accounted for 17.2%. The UK, Japan and Germany markets accounted for 19.3%, 15.2% and 11.1% of total shipments, respectively. Solargiga and Taiwan-based Sino-American Silicon (SAS) are both solar wafer providers who are capable of developing N-type monocrystalline silicon wafers and are suppliers for Japan-based Sharp. The price of P-type monocrystalline silicon solar wafers has been somewhat unaffected by the oversupply problem in the market. The price of 6-inch P-type monocrystalline silicon solar wafer is currently around US$1.65/unit. China-based firms that have focused on the production of monocrystalline solar products have been benefitting from increased orders and the relatively rigid price. Some medium-size solar firms in China that produce 6-inch monocrystalline solar cells have been operating at full capacity. Source: www.digitimes.com