Photovoltaic module manufacturer Sunova plans to launch its TopCon panels in the second half of this year. According to the company, samples of TopCon modules have already been produced by various methods and tests have shown that Sunova products perform as well as other leading brands.
“Currently, Sunova is still in preparation for production equipment, and is expected to reach trial production in the third quarter of this year and begin mass production in the fourth quarter of this year,” the company informed the Canal Solar.
The manufacturer further stated that this decision took into account that TopCon products have higher module efficiency (around 5%) than PERC products and have lower temperature coefficients and linear degradation rate.
“PERC products have almost reached their limits of increasing efficiency and TopCon will lead the new trend to break through module efficiency, becoming a dominant trend in the photovoltaic market,” he said.
Also according to Sunova, the production process for TopCon and PERC products has a high degree of overlap, which means that only a small part of the equipment needs to be replaced for their production.
Furthermore, the manufacturer highlighted that although the cost per watt of TopCon products may be higher than PERC products, the BOS (System Balance) and LCOE (Levelized Cost of Energy) are smaller due to their high efficiency and low degradation rate.
The production of modules based on TopCon cells was one of the most talked about topics during the Southeast Forum, held between March 8 and 10 in São Paulo (SP). Furthermore, it was the main highlight of the panel “Different types of modules and their powers”, presented by Wellington Araújo, general director of Sunova in Brazil.
In addition to highlighting that Sunova plans to invest in TOPCon in 2022, the executive commented on the company's performance in the Brazilian market. “In Brazil, Sunova offers modules certified by Inmetro, in different technologies, power ranges and also with ex-tariff. Furthermore, the company has a complete line of high-efficiency monofacial and bifacial modules with up to 670 W worldwide”, he highlighted.
Furthermore, Araújo highlighted the company's participation in the Brazilian photovoltaic market, which was ranked for the 2nd consecutive year as one of the most remembered module brands in Brazil in the Greener report.
Today, the company specializes in the manufacturing, R&D, sales and service of photovoltaic products and installations. The manufacturer has more than 100 partners and has operations and an installed base in more than 20 countries and regions around the world. Sunova Solar has already accumulated more than 1 GW of supply annually to Brazil, Mexico, Poland, Southeast Asia and other emerging photovoltaic markets.
In Brazil, Sunova has already supplied more than 300 MW of photovoltaic modules, whether under its own brand or OEM and ODM with important local manufacturers and distributors. Furthermore, the company has a sales and service office in Brazil, and intends to have local stock by the end of 2022.
