With the continuous updating of larger wafer size solar cells, bigger size and higher efficiency PV modules are researched and produced by many solar manufacturers using 210 mm or 182 mm silicon wafers, especially in the second half of this year. Eco Green Energy is preparing a new generation product ATLAS, using 182 * 182mm (M10) half-cut cells, which expect to reach 550Wp. Here, we listed 4 points between 182mm and 210mm for you to make choices when you refer to the future Big Modules.
Who is in 182mm or 210mm group?
After sorting, there are 12 PV Manufacturers with a 210mm layout, 9 PV Manufacturers with a 182mm, and 6 PV Manufacturers involved in both sizes. Here selects part of the manufacturers in China.
| 210mm | 182mm | 182mm and 210mm |
| Trina Solar | LONGI | JA Solar |
| Risen | Jinko | SUNTECH |
| Seraphim | Canadian Solar | CHINT |
| Zhonghuan | TALESUN | |
| GCL | ||
| YINGLI | ||
| TW Solar |
(sources: guangfu.bjx.com)
For Eco Green Energy, we finally choose the 182mm (M10) group, and come up with our new generation product – ATLAS, which has 120 cells, the output power range is 440W to 460W, and 140 cells, the output power range is 530W to 550W.
How about the wafer trend of large size?
As using larger silicon wafers can further reduce costs, the two groups of 182mm and 210mm have not only sparked discussions among the solar industry but also become a hot spot of public concern.
(sources: globalmarketmonitor.com)
On the one hand, the 182mm silicon wafer group jointly advocating the establishment of a 182mm*182mm PV silicon wafer standard (M10) as the standard size of the research and development of next-generation silicon wafers, cells, and modules.
On the other hand, the 210mm silicon wafers group believes they have the strongest ability to reduce costs and increase efficiency and are fully compatible with future photovoltaic technology.
Different opinions between 182mm and 210mm
The 210mm silicon wafer is too large, and the weight of the 72 cells 210mm module has also increased significantly, which will bring load risks. At the same time, the width and length of the module will increase accordingly, and auxiliary materials such as glass and frames cannot meet the supply.
Also, some Tiers 1 companies consider the four major factors of integrated silicon wafer size compared with the existing product span, equipment, technology, auxiliary material maturity, production line upgrade difficulty, and current product yield, 182mm is the best size for ultra-high-power modules.
Now the 210mm modules released in the industry, some manufacturers change to a 5-row, 3-cut can control large modules within the range that the container can carry. However, such a design also brings a considerable cost increase in the packaging process.
Eco Green Energy believes that the 182mm, is the best choice for the most stable and mass-produced ultra-high-power modules. We are now processing the ultra-high-power module, with output power up to 550W.
At the same time, 182mm modules can reduce the cable loss by 0.21% compared with 210mm modules. This will have a great impact on the entire power plant. A reduction of 0.21% on cable loss will increase the IRR by 0.15% and reduce the LCOE by 0.21% during the 20-year operation of the power plant.
(Sources: Jinko Solar)
What is the future of 182mm and 210mm PV modules?
POWERCHINA recently issued a bidding notice for the centralized procurement of photovoltaic modules and inverters throughout the next year. As it states, for the PV modules, there has been a change in the size stipulated. That is to say, with 166mm becoming the lower limit, the change leaning towards mainstream modules featuring 182mm-size wafers and above.
(Sources: PVTECH)
Regardless of 182mm or 210mm, the “standardized modules” that help the upstream and downstream and even the industry maximize value are always in the hands of manufacturers that can mass-produce products.
As a result, the modules manufacturers in the 210mm group plan to expand their production scale to a total of 13GW. Including 5GW of Zhonghuan, 3GW of Risen, and 5GW of Trina Solar. Also, manufacturers of the 182mm group have an expanding plan. JA Solar will expand its production capacity by 14GW, LONGI’s by 12GW, Jinko’s capacity by 10GW. Thus, the three companies expanded their production scale to 36GW. (Sources: International Energy Network)
In a conclusion, manufacturers in the 182mm group each have a reserve capacity of more than 10GW, and the least is 10GW. Manufacturers in the 210mm group have only 5GW of expansion. The above production capacity is expected to be put into production at the end of 2020. Thus, we can see, by next year, the proportion of 210mm in the photovoltaic market is only one-third of that of 182mm.
More information regarding our PV module Atlas (M10) and Atlas Pro (M12), please click here.
Then, which one will you choose? 182mm or 210mm? Welcome to discuss with Eco Green Energy: info@eco-greenenergy.com
