Many Taiwan-based crystalline silicon solar cell makers have introduced or plan to introduce PERC (passivated emitter and rear cell) process to increase energy conversion rates for P-type monocrystalline solar cells from 18-19% to 19-20%, with total annual PERC production capacity estimated at 1GWp in fourth-quarter 2014 and increasing to 2GWp in first-half 2015, according to industry sources.
Most of Taiwan's solar cell makers focus on production of P-type polycrystalline models, whose prices have dropped significantly since the US imposed anti-dumping tariffs in late July 2014, the sources said. To cope with the price fall, many makers have shifted production from P-type polycrystalline silicon solar cells to P-type monocrystalline models that offer higher gross margins, the sources indicated.
To further increase gross margins through meeting niche market demand, P-type monicrystalline solar cell makers have turned to PERC technology to hike energy conversion rates, the sources said.
Leading PERC monocrystalline solar cell makers include Sunrise Global Solar Energy, Gintech Energy, Neo Solar Power and TSEC, the sources noted.
