Intersolar Watch: LONGi's "Green Power" + "Green Hydrogen" Solutions Support Global Energy Transition

2024.6.25

Xi'an (China) 25th June — From June 19th to 21st, the largest and most influential solar energy professional exhibition and trade fair to date globally—the 2024 Intersolar Europe—was held in Munich, Germany. The exhibition attracted approximately 3000 companies to exhibit, including LONGi Green Energy Technology Co., Ltd. (hereinafter referred to as “LONGi”), the world-leading solar technology company headquartered in Xi’an, China.

At this year’s exhibition, LONGi showcased its BC full-scenario products and solutions, "Green Power" + "Green Hydrogen" solutions, new world-record efficiency, intelligent manufacturing, and new achievements in sustainability, sharing its latest technological results and practical applications with global customers and partners. LONGi's offerings have garnered favor from exhibitors from around the world. 

LONGi’s Vice President, Dennis She, is optimistic about the continuous participation and contribution of Chinese enterprises in the European renewable energy market. “Europe is committed to achieving its energy transition goals, and Chinese companies, with their professional technology and mature experience in the photovoltaic field, can provide high-quality photovoltaic solutions to Europe through international cooperation and joint efforts of enterprises, thus promoting the development of renewable energy in Europe.” Dennis She said.

In the future, LONGi will continue to adhere to the original intention of technological innovation without wavering, and persist in quickly transforming advanced technology into advanced production capacity resolutely. By continuously innovating, LONGi will turn possibilities into feasibility, create greater value for customers, and contribute LONGi's strength to the global energy transition.

LONGi Pursues the Pinnacle of Technology, by Breaking World Records Repeatedly 

Less than a week after announcing a new world record of 34.6% efficiency for crystalline silicon-perovskite tandem solar cells at the 2024 SNEC EXPO in Shanghai, LONGi has achieved another breakthrough in the efficiency of crystalline silicon-perovskite tandem solar cells.

On June 19th, LONGi announced that, following an independent third-party certification by the authoritative solar cell certification institution, the Fraunhofer Institute for Solar Energy (Fraunhofer ISE) in Germany, the commercial M6 size wafer-level silicon-perovskite tandem solar cells developed by LONGi’s R&D team has achieved a photovoltaic conversion efficiency of 30.1%. This is a significant increase of 1.5 percentage points from the previous record of 28.6% for this technology route, marking a breakthrough in the commercial application of silicon-perovskite tandem solar cell technology by LONGi.

While continuously exploring the efficiency limits of tandem solar cells, LONGi's R&D team has been conducting research on mass production technology for tandem solar cells since October 2023, with a focus on commercial applications. In just six months, they have successively overcome two major technical challenges: the preparation of large-area perovskite films in air and ultra-low-temperature metallization. By combining the experience of prototype device research processes, they have achieved for the first time a photovoltaic conversion efficiency of over 30% on commercial-sized silicon-perovskite tandem solar cell devices.

The theoretical limit efficiency of monocrystalline silicon-perovskite tandem solar cells is up to 43%, making them the next generation of ultra-high efficiency solar cells after monocrystalline silicon back-contact (BC) cells. They are an emerging photovoltaic technology that is being actively researched by the global photovoltaic industry.

LONGi's breakthroughs have not only redefined the efficiency limits of two-terminal tandem solar cells but also taken a key step towards the industrialization of tandem solar cells, helping LONGi to continue to lead in both monocrystalline silicon single-junction cells and tandem solar cells. Currently, LONGi is the "Dual-Champion" of the world record for the efficiency of monocrystalline silicon single-junction solar cells (27.30%) and crystalline silicon-perovskite tandem solar cells (34.6%).

The creation of this world record once again proves that every technological breakthrough by LONGi is not based on laboratory data advancement, but is oriented towards industrialization, centered on customer needs, and has formed an efficient R&D system and ample technical reserves of "mass-producing one generation, developing one generation, researching one generation, and exploring one generation." This allows the rapid introduction of advanced cutting-edge technologies worldwide into mass production, thereby driving the technological upgrade of the entire industry.

LONGi’s BC (Back Contact) Full-scenario Products and Solutions Gain Global Attention

Against the backdrop of rapid iteration in global photovoltaic technology and the diversification of customer needs, LONGi relies on its innovative BC (Back Contact) solar cell technology and a series of high-performance products to meet customers' customized needs through differentiated innovation.

At this exhibition, LONGi made a significant appearance with its BC (Back Contact) full-scenario products and solutions, not only including BC products for distributed and utility scenarios but also functional products and solutions for scenarios such as Anti-Dust and Anti-Humidity and Heat from the Hi-MO X6 series, LONGi Roof 4.0, and "Green Power" + "Green Hydrogen." This marks the European debut of LONGi's BC full-scenario products and solutions. 

At present, LONGi is continuously improving its BC product matrix and persistently creating differentiated competitive advantages. For instance, on May 7th, LONGi launched the all-new generation of ultra-high value module products Hi-MO 9 in Madrid, Spain, which is based on the high-efficiency HPBC 2.0 cell technology. It integrates a variety of advanced technologies, offering core advantages such as higher power generation capabilities, lower BOS costs, and higher reliability. With a maximum power output of 660W and a conversion efficiency of up to 24.43%, Hi-MO 9 is another ultra-high value module product that LONGi has created for the global photovoltaic market through disruptive innovation, deeply understanding customer needs.

The Hi-MO 9 modules have been met with a strong market response. "The company's orders on hand are already close to 1GW, and customer order reserves have exceeded 5GW," said Dennis She. "The company originally planned to supply about 10GW of Hi-MO 9 products globally by 2025, but according to the positive signals currently being released by the market, it is necessary to increase production capacity to meet the rapidly growing market demand." This market feedback not only proves the huge potential and value of BC technology but also lays a solid foundation for LONGi's future development.

With the maturation of new technologies, LONGi's pace of expanding production in the BC technology field is also accelerating. It is revealed that over the next three years, LONGi's monocrystalline silicon wafer annual production capacity is expected to reach 200GW, with TaiRay silicon wafer production accounting for more than 80%. The annual production capacity of BC solar cells will reach 100GW, and the annual production capacity of monocrystalline modules will reach 150GW. The Hi-MO 9 is expected to achieve mass production in the fourth quarter of this year. 

Triple Certifications Issued to Ensure the Safety and Reliability of Hydrogen Energy

On June 20th, DEKRA, a leading global third-party inspection and certification organization, issued DEKRA AOC (Assessment of Compliance) certificates and DEKRA carbon footprint verification statement for LONGi Hydrogen's alkaline electrolyzer and hydrogen production system, respectively. This is a strong testament to the safety, reliability, efficiency, and economy of LONGi's hydrogen production equipment and systems.

The DEKRA K196 standard AOC certificate is based on rigorous assessment criteria, and it comprehensively certifies the safety, stability, and DC power consumption of the continuously operating, commercially deployed 1000 Nm³/h electrolysis hydrogen production system. The issuance of the two certificates proves that LONGi Hydrogen's products and solution are safe, reliable, efficient, economical, and trustworthy.

According to ISO14067 and PAS2050 standards, DEKRA's verification show that the carbon emissions of LONGi ALK Hi1 1000Nm³/h electrolyzer from cradle to offline are 305.88 kgCO₂/(Nm³/h), which is far lower than the white list limit of 800kgCO₂/(Nm³/h) of the Hydrogen Top Runner Action Whitelist. This fully demonstrate the green attributes of LONGi ALK Hi1 series, and also embodies LONGi Hydrogen's innovative management of the green supply chain and its response to export trade barriers.

At the certificate issuance ceremony, Zhang Haimeng, Vice President of LONGi, said that LONGi Hydrogen is committed to becoming a global leader in large-scale green hydrogen equipment manufacturing and solution provision, helping to achieve global carbon neutrality goals through "Green Power" + "Green Hydrogen" solutions. “It is a great honor for LONGi Hydrogen to receive two AOC certificates for the performance of alkaline electrolytic water hydrogen equipment and the world's first carbon footprint verification statement for alkaline electrolyzers from DEKRA. The three certificates are not only a high recognition of the quality of LONGi Hydrogen's products, but also a full affirmation of LONGi's continuous commitment to carbon reduction and energy transition.”

As a leading large-scale green hydrogen equipment manufacturer and solution provider, LONGi Hydrogen achieved the "three No.1s" in 2023: the largest market share in China, the largest single stack production capacity, and the largest manufacturing capacity. In the future, LONGi Hydrogen will continue to increase R&D investment, continuously improve product performance, expand application scenarios, and contribute more to the "Net-Zero". 

About LONGi

Founded in 2000, LONGi is committed to being the world’s leading solar technology company, focusing on customer-driven value creation for full scenario energy transformation.

Under its mission of 'making the best of solar energy to build a green world', LONGi has dedicated itself to technology innovation and established five business sectors, covering mono silicon wafers cells and modulescommercial & industrial distributed solar solutionsgreen energy solutions and hydrogen equipment. The company has honed its capabilities to provide green energy and has more recently, also embraced green hydrogen products and solutions to support global zero carbon development. www.longi.com