Earlier this month, nine module companies including Trina Solar announced that they had reached a consensus on the size standardization of the new generation of rectangular silicon wafers, 2382mm*1134mm, and 790mm/1400mm.
At the same time, the nine companies also advocated that the size design of 182 series modules and 210 series modules should follow the "T/CPIA 0003-2022 Technical Requirements for Dimensions and Mounting Holes of Crystalline Silicon Photovoltaic Modules for Ground Use" formulated by China Photovoltaic Industry Association.
In the past, China's photovoltaic industry has paid a price for the size dispute. It wasn't until this year that the situation turned for the better.
On March 3 this year, Trina Solar presented the 210R product solution and the feasible path of industrialization in SW China's Chengdu, advocated the standardization of the size of silicon wafer battery components, and pointed out that 2384mm*1134mm is currently the module size with the highest utilization rate of containers (the utilization rate reaches 98.5%).
Then on April 11, at a symposium about Crystalline Silicon Module Size led by China Photovoltaic Association, Trina Solar suggested an unified standard for modules about 2384mm*1134mm, which was recognized by the participating companies.
At the 2023 SNEC held in May, leading module manufacturers all launched module products with specifications of 2384mm*1134mm or 2380mm*1134mm, indicating that the differences among leading manufacturers in module size have become smaller and smaller.
In June, leading companies began to discuss issues of standard size. China Green Energy learned that the relevant discussions lasted at least three rounds, and there were many difficulties during the process.
The first round of discussion was on June 10. According to the meeting minutes of that day, the nine module companies discussed four types of medium and large module sizes: 182 square, 182 rectangular, 210 square and 210 rectangular.
The second round of discussions was on June 19. The nine companies reached an Initiative on the Standardization of the Dimensions of Rectangular Silicon Wafer Photovoltaic Modules, which clarified the size of the new generation of rectangular silicon wafers, including large modules with 2382*1134mm; M10 series's 72-cell module with 2278*1134mm; M10 series's 78-cell module with 2465*1134mm; G12 series's 66-cell module with 2384*1303mm.
In the third discussion followed on June 20, a company suddenly proposed that the M10 and G12 module standards should be deleted, which was immediately opposed by other companies because it denied all the consensus before, and the negotiation failed temporarily.
However, the senior executives of the participating companies communicated later, and finally reached agreement that the size standard of large-scale modules would be 2382*1134mm.
Therefore, the standards for modules of different sizes were basically unified:
For small-format modules, since the 1762mm * 1134mm size launched by Trina Solar in April 2022 has adopted by most first-tier manufacturers, it would be a good chice for size standards.
For large-format modules, the module dimensions and mounting hole positions for 210mm cells have reached agreement. And industry standards have also been settled for 60-cell 2172mm*1303mm modules and 66-cell 2384mm*1303mm modules.
The standardization is conducive to improving production efficiency, reducing the cost of the industrial chain, and bringing about large-scale development. However, the problem of non-uniform silicon wafer size still exists, which may be a bigger problem.
