Canadian Solar has begun the mass production of solar modules with large wafer sizes. The power outputs of the modules can reach up to 665W, according to the company.
The 210mm cells are used in the configuration of the mono facial HiKu7 and bifacial BiHiKu7. Canadian Solar stated that by the end of the year, it would have 10GW of installed capacity in the region.
The first shipment of HiKu7 modules is scheduled to be delivered early next month. Even so, almost all of the manufacturer’s capacity for the year has already been reserved.
Canadian Solar’s patented cell technology and module design have been commercialized in these products. This model features hetero-type ribbon and paving technologies, which potentially decrease the gaps within solar cells by more than 50%.
In addition, the manufacturer stated that its Advanced Regeneration technology assisted in further reducing the deterioration caused by light and temperature rise in the module set.
Shawn Qu, chairman and Chief Executive Officer of Canadian Solar, said that the implementation of devices with outputs of up to 665W would lower the LCOE of solar while rising production, thus improving solar energy’s efficiency and accelerating the global clean energy transformation.
With the introduction of solar modules with outputs exceeding 600W, Canadian Solar joins a slew of SMSL competitors who have also brought massive format, high-performance products to market. Trina Solar introduced a 670W version of its Vertex series of 210mm cell modules last month, which is identical to Canadian Solar’s HiKu7 series.
Canadian Solar announced its full-year 2020 performance and 2021 predictions last month, showing a substantial rise in solar panel and energy storage shipments. This was projected to increase sales by over 70%, to as much as US$6 billion.
Despite the market disruption caused by COVID-19, the SMSL member announced full-year 2020 revenue of US$3.5 billion, a 9 percent improvement over the previous year.
Moreover, the company anticipates a significant increase in total module deliveries this year, somewhere between 18GW and 20GW, rising from 11.3GW the year before. The huge revenue increase anticipated in 2021 is due to continued growing demands for PV modules.
The company’s projected sales rise in Energy Storage Systems would make a significant difference in driving revenue in 2021. The manufacturer reported that its storage pipeline had multiplied from less than 3GWh in the first half of 2020 to nearly 9GWh at this point in 2021. In addition, Canadian Solar reported that nearly 1GWh of ESS is already under construction.
The company also announced details of a major shift in product innovation, with an emphasis on ramping up in-house production with an additional 8GW of monocrystalline ingot and wafer production capacity. Most of it is allocated to the 210mm size and is expected to be ready by the end of this year as the company doubles down on larger-format devices.
Lastly, this year will also see the introduction of heterojunction modules by Canadian Solar. It intends to introduce the first N-type PV modules in the second half of 2021. The company this module is equipped with the best technical competence.