There Is No Sustainability Without Reliability

How LONGi’s value proposition of 182mm M10 module in larger solar applications is critical for safeguarding and future-proofing investments in solar. In a recent report from Bloomberg New Energy Finance (BNEF), solar equipment is considered one of the top three important criteria for lending to the IPPs and is also one of the top ten risks mentioned by the IPPs from the Indian perspective.1

Adapting to Indian Climatic Conditions

Operating globally, PV modules find themselves confronted with various climatic challenges, such as hail, storms, heavy snow and high temperatures. LONGi products are designed to withstand challenges of this type, due to the company adopting different testing methods to simulate a comprehensive set of application scenarios at its Reliability Testing Center. In India, global warming has caused multiple and frequent bouts of cyclonic activities, droughts, heavy rainfalls and long spells of intense summer, all these factors combined make India one of the most challenging regions globally for operating solar panels, and the need for reliability of solar equipment is much higher here.

The value proposition of 182mm M10 module in larger solar applications

PV products and technologies should be based on LCOE and take into account cost, energy yield, reliability and feasibility, with system value analysis performed in tandem with application scenarios. After considering all boundary conditions, the M10 module is the best size for a utility-scale power plant and future technological innovation should be centered on increasing efficiency and not just the wafer size.

182mm size module is a standard that LONGi has introduced to the industry after an in-depth analysis of the whole industry chain, incorporating manufacturing, transportation, installation, power generation performance and system matching, also taking into account the boundary conditions of module design and application.

LONGI’s focus is on cell innovation not on increasing the wafer size

As cell efficiency becomes higher and module size larger, product power continues to increase, and reliability risks are also potentially increasing. As a product that will be used for 25 years and possibly more, a PV module can bring sustainable value to global customers only on the premise of reliability.

As a product that will be used for 25 years and possibly more, a PV module can bring sustainable value to global customers only on the premise of reliability.

The glass performance in larger modules is impacted by the influence of the process, with frame stress increasing, the margin of junction box diodes decreasing, and the packaging method during transportation making it difficult to ensure the reliability of the modules. Based on the double glass structure and under the premise of controlling the cost of the frame, module size should not exceed a certain limit, otherwise, the ability to withstand static and dynamic loads will be significantly compromised, increasing the potential for frame damage, glass bursts and higher quantities of cracks leading to excessive module attenuation under laboratory testing and outdoor application conditions.

LONGi’s approach is to consider LCOE as the foundation for product value, incorporating economy and reliability. “LONGi Lifecycle Quality” standard establishes a system that is in line with a real-world outdoor environment, effectively evaluating the outdoor risks for modules, and maximizing customer value based on product reliability, and safety of investments.

1. India Needs $223 Billion To Meet 2030 Renewable Energy Target: Report (bqprime.com)