Solar Power International 2019, one of the world’s largest photovoltaic exhibition, kicked off from September 23 to 26 at the Salt Palace Convention Center in Salt Lake City, USA. Exhibiting in the show for the 4th consecutive years LONGi presented its high-efficiency Hi-MO 4 bifacial modules based on the new 166mm (M6) wafer standard to the North American market.
Dr. Hongbin Fang, Director of Product and Technology, LONGi Solar, showcased LONGi’s latest achievements and shared his views on the future of bifacial technology in the forums “Utility Scale Solar Plants of the Future: Integrating Bifacial Module, Energy Storage, Solar Trackers and Software” and “PV Magazine Quality Roundtable”. “The bifacial PERC module has fully extended the high-efficiency and reliability advantages of mono PERC to the backside of module.” he said. “With higher-power using M6 wafer/cell, LONGi Hi-MO 4 module demonstrates significant BOS cost savings for our customers. It will become a reliable choice for PV power plant investors to realize lower LCOE.”
LONGi has continuously promoted bifacial technology since 2017 and today, leads the deployment of bifacial technology in utility projects with over 2.4 GW cumulative shipments of bifacial modules as of August 2019, the world’s largest.
With increasing applications of bifacial technology in, advanced systems worldwide, LONGi high-efficiency modules, with leading monocrystalline technology, have been widely used in large-scale ground-mount projects since it entered the North American market . In the first half of 2019, LONGi has supplied bifacial PERC modules to many leading projects in the North America, as well as providing bifacial modules for the Department of Energy's ongoing bifacial system field performance studies.
Looking ahead, growth in bifacial demand will continue to accelerate, taking global market to 5.42GW by the end of 2019 and 21GW+ by 2024 – close to a ten-fold increase compared to 2018. By 2024, 17.2% of PV modules worldwide installations will be bifacial. The trend is underpinned by the increasingly sound economics of bifacial modules, noted Wood Mackenzie at SPI 2019.
The Solar Energy Institute of America (SEIA) has set a roadmap to achieve several key goals for the solar industry over the next decade. Solar will account for 20% of US electricity generation by 2030. The roadmap also noted that the 20% share would require deployment of 500GW of solar by 2030.
“North American is an important market for LONGi's global strategy. LONGi Hi-MO 4 will bring greater potential for the application and development of bifacial technology in North America.” said a local partner. “Customers are interested in bifacial technology, but are also concerned about quality, reliability and long-term after-sales service. LONGi has demonstrated the ability to deliver to these requirements ”, he added.
At the exhibition, LONGi held in-depth discussions with customers and partners from all over the world, laying a foundation of understanding for the extensive application of advanced technology and efficient products in the globally.
But it was not all work and no play at SPI 2019. LONGi specially sponsored a golf tournament, the “5K Run-with-the-Sun” and the after-hours “Block Party”. These sponsorships were great activities for the LONGi delegate to meet with customers and industry partners informally and develop brand recognition and lasting friendships.