Leading integrated monocrystalline PV manufacturer Xi'an LONGi Silicon Materials said it at reached 900MW of monocrystalline PERC (Passivated Emitter Rear Contact) solar cell production at the end of the first half of 2016.
Longi claimed in reporting first half 2016 financial results that reaching the 900MW of PERC solar cell capacity put the company ahead of rivals in China migrating to the high-efficiency cells and that further PERC capacity would be added in the second half of the year.
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The PERC capacity increases are also intended to support lower production costs, which have been supported by increased R&D expenditure across wafer, cell and modules in the last couple of years.
LONGi noted that R&D spending in the first half of 2016 had topped RMB 340 million (US$51.3 million) after establishing a Science and Technology Department in Shaanxi Province, China.
Recent developments included single crystal ingot production advancements that were claimed to have reduced non-silicon costs by 33%, while the company is significantly expanding its adoption of diamond wire cutting tools to further reduce mono-wafer production costs.
Financials
LONGi reported first half 2016 revenue of RMB 6.4 billion (US$968 million), compared to around US$253 million in the prior year period, an increase of around 282%. Net profit was RMB 885 million (US$133 million), up around 900% from the prior year period.
Monocrystalline silicon wafer production was 667 million pieces, a 132% increase from the first half of 2015. Monocrystalline wafer shipments were 740 million pieces, which included 575 million pieces to external customers and 165 million pieces for in-house usage, primarily to solar cell and module subsidiary, LERRI Solar.
The company noted that it had achieved 65% of its full-year 2016 wafer shipment target in the first half of the year.
Monocrystalline module production in the first half of 2016 was 910.28MW, compared with the first half of 2015 of 757.78MW.
Monocrystalline module shipments were 922.85MW, which included 873.14MW to external customers and 49.71MW to in-house downstream projects. The company noted that it had achieved 59% of its full-year 2016 module shipment target in the first half of the year.
Recent research undertaken by the in-house research team at Solar Media Ltd., indicated that 2017 is expected to be the year that LONGi Silicon Materials (incorporating its subsidiary LERRI Photovoltaic Technology) could be the next addition to the 'Silicon Module Super League (SMSL).