Astronergy's appearance at Intersolar Europe 2024 left a remarkable mark on the PV sector with the presentation of its latest TOPCon 4.0 cell technology. With an efficiency of 27.06%, this technology demonstrated in Munich an unprecedented new standard for the industry.

To discuss these innovations, Review Energy had the pleasure of speaking with Mrs. Huang, the Executive Vice President and Chief Sustainability Officer at Astronergy. She emphasized that in order to respond to the specific needs of the market, Astronergy developed the 500W TOPCon ASTRO N7smodule, designed to meet the unique demands of the French market but also suitable for other European markets. "This product, which we designed for 500W, is mainly for France. The first reason is that in the French market, there is a policy available that allows us to receive a 10% tax reduction for projects with a certain capacity. That's why we introduced the 500W PV modules, so we can install six pieces of them, and the total maximum output is 3 kW."

Innovations for residential applications

In Intersolar Europe 2024, the company also dazzled with its innovative 460W ASTRO N7s module, specifically designed for balconies due to its compact size and powerful 460W output, with a powerful efficiency of 23.02%, which fits on a surface of approximately 2 square meters. The ASTRO N7s exemplify a green design ethos, combining high efficiency with aesthetic and functional design tailored for home use.

Advanced features and design

The ASTRO N7s module incorporates Astronergy's latest TOPCon 4.0 cell technology along with several other advanced features. This includes high-transparency double-layer glass and non-destructive cutting technology. The module also employs ZBB-TF technology, which eliminates the BusBars and PAD points on the front side, thus enhancing the aesthetic appearance of the module with an all-black finish. "About the ZBB-TF modules, we understood that there's some benefit from the name of these products. ZBB means Zero BusBar. Once we remove the BusBar of the cells, we can increase the surface to accept the light, which can increase the cell efficiency and the power glass, also there is the TF, which means Tiling Film, that is the technology which we introduced that a film in between the two cells and there's some overlap on the surfaces of the modules; the thin film is in between of them to ensure the liability of the modules,” said the expert.

Thanks to the TF technology, which involves stacking the edges of two silicon wafers with a thin film extending over their overlap to cushion against hidden cracking risks, the ASTRO N7s products achieve power outputs exceeding 460W and efficiencies surpassing 23%. Additionally, leveraging ZBB and TF technologies allows these modules to be manufactured at lower temperatures and with thinner silicon wafers, resulting in a reduction of over 20% in silver paste consumption and decreased carbon emissions from module manufacturing processes. These advancements not only enhance environmental sustainability but also improve bending resistance performance, making the products more robust and eco-friendlier.

Strategy and global expansion

Astronergy is enhancing its global presence and production capacity. Mrs. Huang emphasized the importance of global expansion and supply chain management: "At this moment, our capacity by the end of last year is 55 GW for the modules. We have in total 10 plants available in the whole world, including 9 factories in China and another one outside China, which is in Thailand.”

In the future, Astronergy anticipates the need to transfer lots of its capacity out of China, addressing specific market requirements such as those in the United States, Europe, Australia, and potentially Canada. “The Turkey capacity is in progress and will be ready by the end of Q3 this year with 1 GW for the modules and another 2 GW for the cells starting very soon," said Mrs. Huang.

By the end of 2024, Astronergy plans to significantly increase its production capacity. "Basically, the total capacity by the end of this year will be 76 GW in modules, and by the end of next year it will be 103 GW," stressed the expert.

For Mrs. Huang, strategic thinking and in-depth market analysis are essential. As a pioneer of the TOPCon n-type PV module technology. Astronergy has started investing in and testing this technology in 2021. This approach has enabled them to anticipate market trends and make informed decisions to strengthen their competitive position and seize their opportunities in the solar energy sector.

In essence, Astronergy's presence at Intersolar Europe 2024 underscores its commitment to innovation and its leading role in the solar industry. With new technologies and expansion plans, the company continues to push the boundaries of what's possible in solar energy, offering more efficient and aesthetically pleasing solutions for a range of markets.