On November 23, 2024, the 20th China Solar Silicon and Photovoltaic Power Generation Conference (20th CSPV) was in full swing in Shenzhen. As one of the organizers of a breakout session, Grand Sunergy hosted the HJT Cell Technology and Applications sub-forum.
Xu Yongbang, Chief Engineer of New Energy at Grand Sunergy, presented a report titled Analysis of Typical Application Scenarios and Power Generation Gains of HJT Modules. He introduced the key application scenarios for high-efficiency HJT modules and focused on their superior power generation performance and system value for photovoltaic power plants.
With the rapid development of photovoltaic technology, innovations such as rectangular cells, 0BB technology, silver-coated copper, and light conversion films have become standard features for high-efficiency HJT modules. To secure future growth, HJT products must focus on lower levelized cost of electricity (LCOE) and higher conversion efficiency on the product side; offshore photovoltaics, desert photovoltaics, Fishery-Solar Complementarity, agrivoltaics, pastoral photovoltaics, vertical installations, BIPV, zero-carbon industrial parks, and solar-storage-charging parking lots on the application side; and comprehensive optimization of investment costs, power generation, and reliability for photovoltaic power plants on the system side.
From a holistic perspective encompassing product technology, market applications, and system value, Grand Sunergy has introduced a range of HJT products, including the Eutropic Series (182mm), Expedition Series (210Rmm), and Chasing Series (210mm). The Chasing Series G12-132 ultra-high-power modules deliver up to 751.24W with an efficiency of 24.18%, primarily designed for large-scale ground-mounted power plants. The Seapower G12-132 module in the same series achieves up to 740W and 23.82% efficiency, optimized for offshore photovoltaic applications. Beyond centralized scenarios, the Expedition Series G12R-132 rectangular cell modules and the Eutropic Series G10-108 all-black modules have also gained widespread popularity among domestic and international customers due to their reliability and exceptional power generation capabilities.
HJT modules, with advantages such as low degradation rates, ultra-low temperature rise losses, high bifaciality, and superior performance under weak light conditions, have demonstrated outstanding results in outdoor power generation tests conducted by multiple authoritative institutions.
Typically, for photovoltaic modules to transition from small-scale lab trials and pilot production to mass production, rigorous tracking of reliability and power generation capabilities is essential. Beyond laboratory reliability tests, outdoor validation and real-world commercial photovoltaic projects are the most direct and effective ways to assess power generation performance.
Xu explained: “According to empirical data from institutions such as CTC and CPVT, as well as from members of the High-Efficiency HJT 740W+ Club in various locations and scenarios, the 2024 White Paper on China’s HJT Photovoltaic Industry Development, and operational data from compliant commercial photovoltaic projects, HJT achieves over 2.1% relative power generation gains compared to TOPCon. With increasing environmental temperatures and reflectivity, the power generation advantage of HJT modules can exceed 5%, showcasing a significant edge.”
Specifically, at the CTC National Testing Group’s Hainan demonstration site, HJT modules consistently demonstrated superior power generation across all temperature ranges. Thanks to HJT’s ultra-low temperature coefficient, the relative gain of HJT over TOPCon remained above 2.25%. Furthermore, based on CTC test data, PVsyst simulation software, and calculations using GB/T 42766-2023 Guidelines for Solar Energy Resource Assessment in Photovoltaic Power Generation, the reflectivity-driven power generation gain of HJT over TOPCon ranges between 1.03% and 3.97%, depending on installation environment.
Taking Grand Sunergy’s 400MW offshore photovoltaic project in Zhaoyuan, Shandong, as an example, the system-level value benefits of HJT modules were further analyzed. Even with the same internal rate of return (IRR), the 720W HJT modules delivered 1,326.12 hours of annual power generation compared to 1,310.91 hours for 700W TOPCon modules, an increase of 15.2 hours annually or 1.2% more electricity generated. System calculations revealed that 720W HJT modules saved 0.099 yuan/Wp in initial investment compared to 700W TOPCon modules. This was achieved through a combination of BOS savings of 9.9 cents/Wp and a power generation gain of 6 cents/Wp. Additionally, considering costs for structural foundations, AC/DC cables, construction materials, inverters, transformers, and land, the initial investment savings could reach approximately 0.159 yuan/Wp.
