Having recently reporting full-year solar cell and module shipment guidance of between 2.7GW and 2.9GW, JA Solar is also increasing solar cell capacity from 2.5GW to 2.8GW to better match module capacity levels.
Speaking to PV Tech at Intersolar Europe, Jian Xie, president of JA Solar said that upgrades to both cell and module lines would be completed in the current quarter, providing both extra capacity and cell efficiency gains.
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“Although we remain conservative in our capacity expansions, upgrades to our lines will be completed soon,” said Xie. “Our multicrystalline cells have reached over 18% efficiencies and monocrystalline cells have reached 19.4%.”
Equipment upgrades, de-bottlenecking and fully automated module assembly were key aspects of the expansions, while focus had also been given to improved processes for greater protection of cells against PID (Potential Induced Degradation), said Xie.
New PECVD equipment purchases had also been made to convert cell lines to PERC (Passivated Emitter Rear Cell) technology, which would come online by the end of the year.
Xie expects to continue with its current technology roadmap, which includes PERC cell advancements but did not expect N-type mono wafer migration for at least another two to three years and the earliest.
