First-tier China-based PV module makers have been setting up PERC (passivated emitter and rear cell) solar cell production lines to meet growing demand for high-efficiency PV modules in the China market, with an estimated total annual capacity of 5.0GWp to come into operation in second-quarter 2016, according to industry sources in Taiwan.
These first-tier module makers include Trina Solar, CSI, Jinko Solar Holdings, JA Solar Holdings, Yingli Green Energy Holding, and Suntech Power Holdings, the sources said.
Poly-Si solar wafer maker GCL-Poly Energy Holdings and mono-Si solar wafer supplier Xi'an LONGi Silicon Materials have also extended production to solar cells using their own wafers and are setting up PERC production lines as well, the sources indicated.
Demand for PERC solar cells has been driven by a government policy change in China where PV systems are now required to have 255W in minimum power generation for each of its PV modules and the requirement may further go up to 260W in 2016, the sources said.
PERC process can substantially increase energy conversion rates for both mono-Si and poly-Si cells, and modules made of PERC solar cells cane generate more power, the sources explained.
These China-based makers are likely to further expand PERC solar cell production capacities to a combined annual level of 6.0-8.0GWp in 2016, the sources said.
Taiwan-based solar cell makers' PERC solar cell capacity totals 1.5GWp currently, the sources indicated.
