China-based Jinneng Group has formed a strategic partnership with US-based renewable energy development firm SunEdison for R&D of N-type monocrystalline HIT (heterojunction with intrinsic thin layer) silicon solar cells, according to Jinneng.
Jinneng and SunEdison on February 24 held a groundbreaking ceremony for a joint-venture factory for making such solar cells and PV modules in northern China, with the factory to have an annual capacity of 500MWp in the first phase and 1.5GWp in the second.
Jinneng has a factory for P-type PERC (passivated emitter and rear cell) solar cells with an annual capacity of 1.2GWp in northern China.
N-type monocrystalline HIT solar cells are expected to reach energy conversion rates of over 22% and thereby generate 20% more power than conventional ones. However, production cost for N-type monocrystalline HIT solar cells is significantly higher than that for conventional ones.
Article translated by Adam Hwang
