Currently, carbon neutrality has become a global consensus. More than 140 countries have announced their commitments to carbon neutrality, covering 88% of global carbon emissions. The development of renewable energy represented by solar PV and wind power is picking up pace globally. It is predicted that the world will add more than 200 GW of solar PV in 2022, up by over 25 % year-on-year. The cumulative installed capacity will exceed 1000 GW.
With the continuous upgrade of solar PV technologies, the commercial conversion efficiency of PERC cells has almost reached its theoretical limit. N-type cells have now taken up the baton to run the race towards higher efficiency.
Knowing the limit of p-type cells, JA Solar as a leading solar manufacturer has started the research and development of n-type cells and modules from a decade ago. After multiple iterations and verification, JA Solar launched DeepBlue 4.0 X in May 2022. DeepBlue 4.0 X is a new n-type high efficiency module series with power up to 625 W.
DeepBlue 4.0 X module mainly adopts two core technologies: n-type Bycium+ cell and Gapless Flexible Interconnection (GFI) technology. Bycium+ cell is a high efficiency n-type passivated contact cell innovated by JA Solar. The cell is based on a mature 182mm size wafer, and adopts millisecond level low oxygen n-type wafer technology, optimized passivation and contact technologies, ultra-thin busbar metallization and double-sided anti-reflection film technology. The conversion efficiency of the cell can reach 25%.
Module efficiency is improved both by higher cell efficiency and high-density module encapsulation. DeepBlue 4.0 X module adopts JA Solar’s patented high-density module encapsulation technology, the GFI technology. The round ribbon has a special buffer treatment that handles mechanical stress at cell interconnections and thus eliminates the risk of micro-cracks. Meanwhile, JA Solar has maintained the standardized size of the modules by adjusting the size of the wafers, which ensures versatility for downstream applications.
Besides, GFI technology has high compatibility. Compatible with downstream inverter and tracker products, the technology can further reduce the LCOE, while improving the module efficiency by about 0.4% and power by about 10 W. Compared with conventional modules, GFI modules can reduce the product construction cost by 0.23cent/W to 0.38cent/W and lower the LCOE by 0.3% to 0.7%.
Through continued R&D and production experiments, JA Solar’s n-type products have already met the conditions for mass production. The production capacity of n-type cell is expected to exceed 27 GW by the end of 2023, and the delivery of n-type high efficiency modules will begin. In the future, the product will be steadily promoted based on the demands of different market segments.
At 15:00, December 8, 2022 (Beijing time), JA Solar will invite partners from middle and downstream sectors for a webinar on the core technologies and product features of n-type module DeepBlue 4.0 X based on GFI technology, and how it can contribute to more customer value.
