The Global Energy Show (GES) in Calgary is one of the largest energy industry exhibitions in Canada, and LONGi recently had the pleasure of attending this year’s event. It was a real sign of the times!
Despite the show’s prior history as the Global Petroleum Show and its location in the oil-rich province of Alberta, the 2023 edition of GES saw unprecedented activity around solar power, thanks to new federal policy support – and new high-performance solar technologies available for Canadian projects, including LONGi’s new Hi-MO7 module.
Launching a PV Module for All Climates
GES was the perfect occasion for the official launch of our Hi-MO7 module for the Canadian market, giving our team opportunities to have real-life conversations with customers about the advantages this groundbreaking new module offers projects in colder-weather regions.
● Conversion efficiency: The Hi-MO7 offers up to 580 W of power in a standard M10 size module, thanks to our highest-ever conversion efficiency of 22.5%. This superior conversion efficiency per module benefits projects anywhere, but it can be especially important to the economics of projects in countries like Canada with limited suitable land and high labor costs.
● Bifaciality: LONGi has led in the development of several generations of solar technology, including bifacial modules, and the Hi-MO7’s HPDC technology achieves our highest-ever bifaciality of approximately 80%. This is a particular advantage in snowy conditions, since bifacial generation ensures that production continues even when the front sides of panels are covered in snow. This power generation has the additional bonus of producing heat, which helps to melt the snow.
● Durability: The Hi-MO 7 is built with high-quality raw materials and robust design features The multi-dimensional design and advanced manufacturing processes LONGi uses ensure superior durability and exceptional mechanical load performance, allowing the Hi-MO 7 to hold up against the heavy snows and gusty winds of Canadian winters.
Thanks to the appeal of this new module for Canadian customers and accelerating interest in the domestic solar industry more generally, our booth at GES saw a steady stream of visitors all week long. We had the largest booth of any solar company at the event, and the gleaming new Hi-MO 7 modules on display definitely attracted lots of visitors – including some who had never seen a solar panel before! From oil and gas companies looking to get into solar development to potential new end-users like vertical farm operators, the LONGi team had non-stop opportunities to share in the growing excitement around solar’s potential for Canada.
Special Attention on Solar Ecosystem in the Canadian Market
In addition to our booth at GES, My colleague CJ Fu had the privilege of being a panelist at the NX Solar Forum in Calgary, an event hosted by global leader in solar tracking solutions, Nextracker, that included prominent companies throughout Canada’s solar ecosystem. After partnering on so many projects all over the world, it was terrific to have a chance to discuss Hi-MO 7’s advantages for utility-scale solar in Canada alongside Nextracker, and the country’s top solar developers, O&M providers, and engineering firms. There was a feeling of optimism, collaboration and learning in the room as we shared the lessons we’ve collectively learned about building scalable solutions for successful solar projects in Canada.
Also sharing the stage was Evan Wilson, VP of policy for Canadian Renewable Energy Association (CanREA), who drove home the fact that the Canadian solar market is hitting a major inflection point. According to the CanREA, utility-scale solar installations in 2022 nearly tripled compared to installations in 2021, and this growth is expected to accelerate further in the coming years thanks to strong new policy support. Canada’s 2023 budget included a 10-year refundable investment tax credit (ITC) of 30% for wind, solar, and storage projects, providing incentives on par with those in the United States.
Our commitment to the Canadian solar market isn’t just about taking advantage of this newly-supercharged growth potential – indeed, LONGi has been delivering solar solutions for Canadian customers for years. As the world’s largest solar manufacturer, supplying roughly a quarter of total global market demand, LONGi’s leadership in the industry is based on providing solar solutions for projects anywhere and everywhere, and not just the wide-open desert regions that characterized the industry’s early development.
We were thrilled to have a chance to show what this leadership means for the Canadian market over the course of GES, the NX Solar Forum, and multiple interviews with the Canadian energy press. With our presence at these events and the delivery of cutting-edge new products like Hi-MO 7, LONGi aims to be the solar supplier of choice for Canadian utility-scale solar projects – and, in doing so, demonstrate our commitment to helping solar succeed everywhere on the planet.
For more information on LONGi’s Canada business please contact Tony Hu, thu@longi.com