Trina Solar, said to be the world's leading smart PV and energy storage solutions provider, and five other leading manufacturers – Astronergy, Canadian Solar, Risen Energy, TCL Zhonghuan and Tongwei – set up on 15 December the 700W+ Photovoltaic Open Innovation Ecological Alliance. This immediately followed the launch on 11 December of a joint initiative on standardising and applying the design of 700W+ PV modules. This is seen as a significant milestone, marking the point at which a whole industry enters the PV 700W+ era.
Based on the standard dimensions of 700W+ ultra-high power modules, alongside the "T/CPIA 0003-2022 Technical Specification for Crystalline Silicon Terrestrial Photovoltaic Module Dimensions and Mounting Holes" document issued by the China Photovoltaic Industry Association, the six manufacturers have proposed that 700W modules in all PV companies should adhere to existing agreed industry dimensions (module size: 2384mm x 1303mm; module long-side vertical hole distance: 400mm/1400mm). A hole distance of 790mm has been added to the standard.
Reducing LCOE through enhancing module efficiency and power output has become an inexorable trend in the industry. The alliance member companies said that with the collaborative efforts of PV open innovation ecological alliance, the PV industry entered 600W+ era three years ago. Nowadays, power output of PV modules has been upgraded from 600W+ to 700W+ with the application of n-type high-efficiency cell technology (TOPCon, HJT, etc) and G12 (210mm) large-format wafer technology.
The initiative, which calls for all PV companies to promote standardisation of module dimensions and the industrialisation of ultra-high-power and ultra-high-efficiency modules, is expected to push the industry one step further toward in industrialising 700W+ PV modules.
The newly upgraded 700W+ Alliance is expected to provide great opportunities for both the upstream and downstream chain, while achieving large scale effects, enhancing supply chain efficiencies, boosting production and lowering costs throughout the industrial chain.