An claims that GCL can “provide customers with transparency and accountability throughout the entire solar value chain” through the inclusion of a QR code on their modules which reveals the entire supply chain and technical specifications for the product.

GCL is a fully vertically-integrated manufacturer, with production from silicon powder through ingots, wafers, cells and modules. Supply traceability has become one of the major talking points at trade shows like SNEC as solar buyers seek to ensure their modules are produced ethically and ecologically.

Goodwe offers C&I solutions

We then caught up with Chinese inverter and energy storage solution manufacturer Goodwe, which brought a number of residential and corporate & industrial (C&I) products to the SNEC show floor.

Alexandre Pereira, solution manager at GoodWe talked the PV Tech team through the company’s suite of offerings, including EV chargers, home inverters, building-integrated PV (BIPV) modules and low-voltage energy storage systems.

“The highlight” of the company’s time at SNEC is its 261kWh battery bank solution for the C&I market.

Winhitech on its HJT bifacial modules

Chinese cell and module manufacturer Winhitech spoke to PV Tech about its heterojunction technology (HJT) modules on the SCEC show floor.

The solar industry is engaged in a technology shift, from majority p-type PERC technology to n-type products, the majority of which are either TOPCon or HJT. Most large manufacturers have set out their stores for TOPCon products for the coming years, but Winhitech has opted for the less popular HJT configuration.

Founded in 2021, the company has 5GW of module and 3GW of cell production capacity and has signed a number of research cooperation agreements with universities, notably the University of New South Wales in Australia.

Paul Ni, general manager at Winhitech tells PV Tech about their modules’ bifaciality and high-efficiency HJT technology.

Suntech tours its TOPCon offerings

PV manufacturer Suntech put its weight behind TOPCon modules at its SNEC 2024 stand. Tianjiao Wu, product management engineer at Suntech told PV Tech about the wide range of sizes, power outputs and end markets that its TOPCon products offer.

Canadian Solar continues TOPCon expansion

Solar manufacturing giant Canadian Solar talked PV Tech through its wide range of TOPCon (and one HJT) modules on show at SNEC 2024.

The company has previously stated its plans to have TOPCon fulfil the majority of its global capacity in the coming years and it recently announced the commencement of operations at its new 5GW TOPCon module production facility in the US.

Like its fellow Chinese manufacturers at the top of the global leaderboard, Canadian Solar has been faced with narrowed margins over the last year even as its shipments have grown. Low prices and oversupply in the upstream of the solar supply chain have squeezed the operations of major silicon-based manufacturers.

Aiswei brings inverters and AI

Chinese Aiswei and its global brand Solplanet brought their “innovative” inverters to SNEC as well as a digital AI platform.

Ada Zhu, global marketing head at AISWEI talked PV Tech through the company’s range of inverters and energy management systems. She emphasised the company’s smart product offerings and its AI platform which she said can manage power application and save costs.