What is Photovoltaic Solar Energy?

Photovoltaic (Photovoltaic): is the abbreviation of Solar photovoltaic power system (Solar power system). It is a new type of power generation system that uses the photovoltaic effect of solar cell semiconductor materials to directly convert solar radiation into electrical energy. Grid-connected operation in two ways.

Solar photovoltaic effect, referred to as photovoltaic (PV), also known as photovoltaic effect (Photovoltaic), refers to the non-uniform semiconductor or semiconductor and metal combination generated between the light
Li Hejun's "China's Leadership: The Third Time"
Since 2015, Feidong County, Anhui Province has accumulatively sought and invested financial funds of 8.55 million yuan to implement photovoltaic poverty alleviation, and distributed new collectives (families) for 5 poverty-stricken villages, 225 poor households, and 80 three-none special poor households in the county. 310 photovoltaic power stations. [3]
advantage
No danger of depletion;
Safe and reliable, no noise, no pollution emission, absolutely environmental protection (no pollution);
It is not limited by the geographical distribution of resources, and has the advantage of being beautifully installed on the building roof;
No need to consume fuel and erect transmission lines to generate electricity locally.
High energy quality (currently, the highest conversion rate in the laboratory has reached more than 47%);
The user is emotionally acceptable and very fond of it;
Short construction period and short time to obtain energy;
From the perspective of national security, photovoltaic power generation can realize the family's own supply and avoid the devastating blow brought by the war.
Disadvantage
Solar energy utilization equipment must have a considerable area.
The application of solar energy is affected by climate, day and night.
Technical restrictions lead to low energy utilization, low efficiency, and high equipment investment.
The battery using solar energy storage will also bring great pollution.
The European Union proposes to impose anti-dumping duties on solar products made in China, effective June 6, 2013, while Germany and 16 other EU countries have expressed opposition to the Commission; some companies such as JA Solar (NASDAQ: JASO) have reported outstanding results market expectation. Can the photovoltaic industry be "not extremely Thai"?
Recovery is the most hopeful word in the photovoltaic industry that seems to be unfavorable in recent years. Affected by the sudden rise of the solar stocks in the US stocks, domestic photovoltaic industry stocks have also begun to come out of a good market. At the same time, the reinvestment of some listed companies in the photovoltaic industry has also allowed the market to begin to imagine the recovery of the photovoltaic industry.
US stock Jingao Solar far exceeded the market's expected quarterly report and stimulated the stock price to rise 70.37%. Subsequently, the solar sector in the Chinese stocks collectively skyrocketed. Immediately, the individual stocks of the photovoltaic industry in the A-share market also began to rise sharply, and the daily limit of Sanhua and Longji shares of Sunshine Power. In fact, the trend of the individual stocks of the photovoltaic industry in the A-share market has gradually strengthened since May, and a lot of funds have gradually begun to get involved in this once relentlessly abandoned sector.
China Industry Insight Network analysts believe that the advance effect of the capital market seems to be the best example of hope for the photovoltaic industry to recover, and in the real economy, there seems to be various evidence to support the judgment of recovery. Hairun Photovoltaic announced that the company will spend 2 billion yuan to build 5 photovoltaic power generation projects, and said that the lowest expected internal rate of return is also close to 10%, the highest is more than 15%. Coincidentally, Zhonghuan also issued an announcement saying that it plans to invest with its partners to construct a 25 million mm sapphire crystal rod production project.
More importantly, the announcement shows that Zhonghuan has agreed with the Hohhot Municipal People's Government to jointly build the world's largest Jinqiao Photovoltaic Industrial Park with the world's leading technology level and the world's largest integrated production and sales scale in the Hohhot Jinqiao Economic Development Zone. According to the relevant agreement, the Hohhot government will fully support the construction of the 1000MW Low-Power Concentrated Photovoltaic Power Generation Demonstration Project of Zhonghuan, and timely arrange roads according to the power station construction progress of the Low-Power Concentrated Photovoltaic Power Generation Project, and approve the grid connection.
The main driving force for the development of the domestic solar cell industry is the demand of the photovoltaic power generation market. The market for photovoltaic power generation in China is mainly in several aspects.
Communications and industrial applications (about 36%):
Microwave relay station
Optical cable communication system;
Radio paging station
Satellite communications and satellite television receiving systems;
Rural program-controlled telephone system;
Troop communication systems; railway and highway signalling systems;
Lighthouse and beacon light power;
Meteorological and seismic stations;
Hydrological observation system;
Cathodic protection of sluices and cathodic protection of petroleum pipelines.
Applications in rural and remote areas (about 51%):
Independent photovoltaic power station (village
Driven by the international solar photovoltaic power generation market, supported by the Renewable Energy Law and supporting policies, China's solar power generation industry has grown rapidly, and a good solar photovoltaic cell manufacturing industry foundation has been established, formed in terms of technology and cost To international competitive advantage. Diversified solar power generation markets such as large-scale photovoltaic power stations, CSP stations, distributed photovoltaic power generation and off-grid photovoltaic systems have been launched. A market competition mechanism that is conducive to cost reduction has been initially established, and the cost of solar power generation has achieved rapid decline, which has the conditions for large-scale application in China.
As the fastest-growing economy in the world, China's technology and applications in the field of photovoltaic power generation are only at the world's downstream level. The main reason is that China has not yet mastered the polysilicon purification technology required for solar photovoltaic cells, which is monopolized by large foreign companies, so the cost of domestic production of solar photovoltaic cells is high. The cost of photovoltaic power generation is several times the cost of general power generation, and therefore it cannot be widely used.
In 1958, China developed the first silicon
Poor market
At the end of 2007, the total market value of Chinese photovoltaic companies listed in the United States reached the highest point, about 32 billion US dollars. At that time, only nine companies were listed in the United States. Today, the number of listings has increased to 11, but the total market value is only 2 billion US dollars, which has dropped by more than 90% from its peak. In the past year and a half, the theory of price elasticity of demand for photovoltaic products completely failed, and the price fell sharply, but demand was once tight. Xu Yan believes that it is mainly due to tight bank credit policies. As the world's largest photovoltaic market, Europe is experiencing a severe debt crisis, credit is tense, and the photovoltaic market is in poor condition.
In addition, Jefferies Group estimates that due to the US dual-reverse policy affecting Chinese exports, only in the first quarter of this year, the losses of Chinese photovoltaic companies due to the dual-reverse ratio reached US $ 120 million, which is equivalent to the need for Chinese companies to sell 2.4GW more modules Recover damages.
Currently, the photovoltaic industry has ceased production and bankruptcy, and it is very difficult for companies to obtain funds from the market. Xu Zheng said that there have been about 10 photovoltaic companies attempting to go public without success.
According to the news of the website of the China Semiconductor Industry Association, Xu Yan said that the decline in the price of photovoltaic products has caused huge asset impairment of photovoltaic companies. Of the nine photovoltaic companies counted by Jefferies, the asset impairment loss in the second half of last year was as high as US $ 3.9 billion .
The United States Federal Energy Regulatory Commission (FERC) recently announced new utility-level power generation in October, while only five photovoltaic projects totaled 31 MW, less than 20% of the monthly average of 180 MW in 2014.
It should be noted that FERC only counts utility-grade solar energy, so these data do not include those growing "post-meter" areas, including rooftop solar photovoltaic systems for homes, businesses, and schools.
Despite the slow progress of utility-level photovoltaic projects at this stage, the national photovoltaic market is expected to increase to 6.5 GW in 2014, an increase of 36% over 2013, making solar energy over natural gas the largest source of new power generation.
Top 10 Chinese photovoltaic companies listed abroad
The 10 companies with the highest overseas market capitalization of China's photovoltaic industry (data as of August 13, 2012)
TOP 1: GCL-Poly Market Value: 18.3 billion (HK $) = 2.359 billion (USD)
TOP 2: Trina Solar Market Value: 389 million (USD)
TOP 3: Yingli Green Energy Market Cap: 279 million (USD)
TOP 4: JA Solar Market Value: 204 million (USD)
TOP 5: Suntech Power Market Value: 197 million (USD)
TOP 6: LDK Market Value: 192 million (USD)
TOP 7: Yuhui Sunshine Market Cap: 135 million (USD)
TOP 8: Canadian Solar's market value: 127 million (USD)
TOP 9: Hanwha New Energy Market Value: 97.139 million (USD)
TOP 10: Jinko Energy's market value: 577.9098 million (USD) ...
China's photovoltaic industry encounters "double anti" crisis in Europe and America
October 2011
US solar cell maker Solar World has called for a "double-reverse" investigation of 75 Chinese companies.
November 2011
The United States has launched a case investigation into 75 Chinese photovoltaic companies.
March 2012
The U.S. Department of Commerce's preliminary ruling has decided to impose a 2.9% to 4.73% countervailing duty on Chinese solar cells exported to the United States.
May 2012
The US Department of Commerce's preliminary ruling imposes high anti-dumping duties of 31.14% to 249.96% on photovoltaic products imported from China.
September 2012
The European Union has launched an anti-dumping investigation against the Chinese photovoltaic industry exported to Europe, but has not submitted an anti-subsidy investigation against the Chinese photovoltaic industry exported to Europe.
October 2012
The U.S. Department of Commerce issued a final ruling on the 10th, deciding that China has dumped and subsidized crystalline silicon photovoltaic cells and modules exported to the United States.
October 2012
EU submits request for countervailing investigation against China s PV industry in Europe.
China fights back: Ministry of Commerce launches counter-inspection on South Korea, US, and EU
July 2012
China's Ministry of Commerce confirmed that it initiated a "double-anti" case against the United States in the polysilicon field and initiated an anti-dumping investigation against South Korea.
November 2012
The Ministry of Commerce of the People's Republic of China has decided to conduct an anti-subsidy investigation and an anti-dumping investigation on imported solar-grade polysilicon originating from the European Union, and will conduct a combined investigation with the "double anti" investigations on polysilicon products that have been initiated in the United States and South Korea.
Affected by the European debt crisis and multi-country trade protection, Chinese photovoltaic companies suffered large losses. Among them, Safeway has lost more than US $ 400 million in the first half of 2012, and Suntech Power lost US $ 180 million in Q2 of 2012.
The European Commission announced on the 4th that the European Union will levy temporary anti-dumping duties on photovoltaic products produced in China from June 6. The tax rate for the first two months was 11.8%, and it will rise to 47.6% thereafter.
In a statement, the European Commission said that in order to ensure a stable supply of photovoltaic products in the short term, the Commission decided to implement temporary tariffs in two steps. From June 6, the EU will implement a temporary tax rate of 11.8%. After August 6, the tax rate will rise to 47.6%, during which the average tax rate is 37.2% to 67.9%.
EU Trade Commissioner De Gucht said at the press conference that the temporary tax rate will be maintained for 6 months until December, after which the European Commission will decide whether to impose a permanent tariff on photovoltaic products made in China. Once levied, the tariff will continue. 5 years.
However, on the same day, the European Union's Affordable Photovoltaic Alliance (AFASE) sent an open letter to De Gucht calling for its ruling to stop taxation. The letter said: The Commission s actions will make solar energy more expensive than coal or nuclear energy, which will make clean solar energy impossible to replace dirty energy. The letter emphasized: "Climate change is the biggest challenge of our generation, and cheap solar energy is a powerful weapon to meet this challenge."
At the request of EU ProSun, the European Commission initiated anti-dumping and countervailing investigations on solar cells originating in China in September and November 2012.
De Gucht said that the European Commission believes that the dumping margin of Chinese photovoltaic companies to the EU market is as high as 112.6%, and the degree of damage to EU photovoltaic products is about 67.9%. The European Commission also believes that Chinese products have caused a considerable number of EU PV companies to go bankrupt and affected about 25,000 job opportunities in the EU.
The European Commission has proposed to EU member states to impose temporary anti-dumping duties of an average of 47.6% on Chinese photovoltaic products. According to sources, the proposal was opposed by 18 member states.
Rong Sili, director of the European Public Affairs Department of China Trina Solar, said that the temporary anti-dumping duties imposed by the EU, whether 11.7% or 47.6%, would have a bad impact on Chinese and European related companies. She said: "Our German customers have made estimates that if the EU tax rate is set at about 15%, then 85% of their business may be lost."
De Gucht also said: "The European Commission will be ready to start discussions with Chinese photovoltaic product exporters and related chambers of commerce, and if the two sides can find a proper solution, temporary tariffs will cease to be imposed."
In this regard, Rong Shili said: "Our company certainly welcomes such talks, but this requires the sincerity of both parties." [6-8]
On June 4, 2013, the European Commission announced that the European Union will impose a temporary anti-dumping duty of 11.8% on solar panels and key components produced in China from June 6. If the EU and China fail to reach a settlement by August 6, the anti-dumping duty rate will rise to 47.6%.
Suntech in Wuxi: Chairman Shi Zhengrong
Jiangxi Saiwei: Chairman Peng Xiaofeng
Yingli Group: Chairman Miao Liansheng
JA Group: Chairman Jin Baofang
Artes: Chairman Qu Xiaoxun
Trina Solar: Chairman Gao Jifan
Hanwha New Energy: Chairman Nan Shengyou
Yuhui Sunshine: Chairman Li Xianshou
JinkoSolar: Chairman Li Xiande
Nanjing CLP: Chairman Lu Tingxiu
How should Chinese PV companies respond to the "double counter"
Regarding how Chinese PV companies should respond to the United States' "double-reverse", many people in the industry have proposed a "detour to the sea" strategy. In fact, the overseas expansion strategy should become a long-term strategy for Chinese photovoltaic companies. Regardless of whether there is a "double counter", it should be carried out in a planned way. Moreover, the central government should also provide adequate support so that the country can be adequate A good export of foreign exchange reserves. This has been said before. However, as an entrepreneur, it is important to note that setting up factories overseas is a complex and long-term matter that requires careful investigation and careful decision-making. If it is just for "double-reverse", making decisions in a hurry may result in mistakes. Moreover, it is necessary to cope with the increase in costs caused by overseas factories. [9]
However, for Chinese photovoltaic companies, it is more important to take advantage of the current downturn in the photovoltaic industry, to strengthen their strength as soon as possible, to enhance their ability to resist risks, and to improve their technology and manufacturing levels. This is the real response. Here are three suggestions:
1) Should boldly adopt China's independent innovation technology
Although China is a large country in photovoltaic manufacturing, it is not a strong country in photovoltaic manufacturing. Take the current polysilicon as an example, the foreign sales price to China has been reduced to 150,000 yuan / ton, and there is profit, but almost all Chinese companies can only stop production. This is the consequence of relying on foreign technology. However, China's manufacturing experience over the years has actually accumulated a wealth of innovation. In fact, many companies have developed many "low-cost, high-efficiency" photovoltaic manufacturing technologies. For example, the PM method polysilicon purification technology developed by Shanghai Puluo can reduce the cost to 60,000 yuan / ton with a purity of 99.99995%, which is only 1 / 2.5 of the cost of Siemens polysilicon abroad. The seedless casting single crystal technology being developed by Shanghai Puluo is not only high in efficiency but also low in cost, and has already taken the lead in the world. The four-ingot polysilicon ingot furnace of Shanghai Puluo has a single furnace output of 3,200 kg, the energy consumption per ingot is less than 5 kWh / kg, and the grain quality is better than that of European and American ingot equipment. This shows that China's equipment manufacturing and process research and development capabilities are already at the internationally advanced level. In the trough period of the current crisis stage, as long as Chinese photovoltaic companies boldly use these innovative technologies for independent innovation, boldly adopt domestic own technological achievements, and independently research and develop more efficient and energy-efficient photovoltaic products, they can further significantly reduce photovoltaic manufacturing costs. In April 2013, the High Efficiency Roof Concentrating Power Generation System project of Wuhan Wawei Energy won a special gold award at the 41st Geneva International Invention Exhibition, which is one of three special gold awards won by the Chinese delegation.
In fact, although European and American countries' research on photovoltaics is several years earlier than China. But the lead is not obvious. Most process equipment is rough and has not undergone long-term industrialization testing. Many of the equipment have worse performance than Chinese equipment, and some even have "stupid" designs. Of course, there are a lot of technology-leading equipment and processes, but the leading advantages are not great. Therefore, on the one hand, China's equipment manufacturing and technology research units need to speed up the R & D progress and achieve full transcendence of Europe and the United States from the perspective of the entire industrial chain as soon as possible. In this case, even if the European debt crisis continues to ferment, and even if the United States persists in double-reverse, China's photovoltaic industry can still get rid of its dependence on European and American markets and technologies, get rid of its trade barriers, and lead the world alone. This will also make the United States and Europe more established trade barriers, which will harm their own photovoltaic industry development, while China will be able to develop better.
2) boldly carry out technological innovation and establish China's unique photovoltaic manufacturing system
In addition to the independent innovation of polysilicon, ingots, slicing, battery cells, and components in traditional industries such as textiles, clothing, electronics, etc., China should also take advantage of China's major manufacturing countries to integrate automobiles, electronics, clothing, textiles, etc. The manufacturing advantages of traditional industries have been transferred to the manufacturing systems of the photovoltaic industry. In this way, the world's most competitive photovoltaic manufacturing system can be established, and the cost can be minimized. In China's photovoltaic manufacturing industry, although the downstream costs are temporarily lower than abroad, the cost of polysilicon is still higher than abroad. In terms of equipment manufacturing, many aspects of manufacturing technology still rely on foreign countries, so the manufacturing advantage is not obvious. Once the advantages of China's traditional manufacturing industry are transferred, it will be in an unshakable leading position. In this way, any foreign trade barriers will cause them to rock themselves and lose only their own losses.
China's photovoltaic enterprises should use the downturn of the industry to improve the technological level and equipment manufacturing level of all aspects of the photovoltaic industry in China, maintain the cost advantages they have, and actively adopt new processes to convert the high cost shortcomings of polysilicon raw materials. For the advantage of low cost, China's photovoltaic industry has a significant competitive advantage in terms of cost and technology in all links of the entire industrial chain, and will continue to maintain it for a long time. Only in this way can foreign governments and enterprises curb China's attempts to curb PV development.
3) Take advantage of the opportunity for the rapid decline in the cost of photovoltaic modules to vigorously develop the domestic photovoltaic power generation market.
As the cost of photovoltaic components and systems has fallen sharply, the photovoltaic on-grid price of 1 yuan / degree has become very profitable in northwestern China. In the east, Jiangsu Province has formulated a 1.25 yuan / degree strategy. Domestic photovoltaic enterprises can vigorously carry out the construction of photovoltaic power stations, enjoy the low-price dividends brought by the photovoltaic downturn caused by the financial crisis, and simultaneously launch photovoltaic projects in the west with photovoltaic power generation to solve the problem of photovoltaic power outlets. At the same time, photovoltaic application enterprises must also boldly explore, in addition to building ground power stations in the western region, they must also use roof power generation, surface power generation, and offshore photovoltaic power generation applications in the central and eastern coasts to accumulate experience and provide a basis for the Chinese government.
China s photovoltaic industry has an upside-down phenomenon. Governments and enterprises in all regions are developing photovoltaics for photovoltaics. They only consider photovoltaics as an emerging industry, and forget that photovoltaics are actually an energy industry. This exaggeration of photovoltaics exists in many areas of our country. This exaggeration is actually the isolation of photovoltaic, but it has limited the development of photovoltaic. The true development of the photovoltaic industry can only be achieved after photovoltaic has been fully applied. After all, photovoltaic power is an energy source that provides power to people's lives and economic development. Therefore, the development of photovoltaic can not be photovoltaic for photovoltaic, but to develop the photovoltaic industry reasonably for economic development. Photovoltaic power generation should be closely integrated with industry, agriculture, service industry projects, and people's daily life. Photovoltaic power serves production and serves the people. Only in this way can photovoltaic power generation embark on a healthy development path.
In addition, powerful enterprises should take advantage of the current low prices and the downturn of the industry to find ways to unite financial institutions, implement counter-market expansion, and overtake corners. Expand production in the trough and increase the intensity and intensity of technological transformation, so that it can meet the next round of industrial climax at the lowest cost and the largest production capacity.
As long as the manufacturing level of Chinese PV companies can be improved, as long as Chinese PV companies increase their technological advantages while maintaining cost advantages, as long as Chinese PV companies can face up to the status of PV and enable PV to best serve economic production and people's lives, then No matter what tricks and measures the Yankees take, they cannot hurt China's photovoltaic industry. They will find that "double anti" not only will not hurt Chinese enterprises, but will lift their own stones. China's photovoltaic industry will be able to "sit on a fishing boat despite storms."
EU-China negotiations
After nearly a year of marathon games, and with the intervention of leaders at the highest political level, the EU and China reached a settlement on the PV anti-dumping case, and Chinese PV companies finally got a rare respite. The companies involved approached Tencent Finance's inside story.
The European Commission announced on August 2 that it has formally approved the "price commitment" agreement for the Sino-European photovoltaic trade dispute. The plan will be implemented from August 6, which marks the settlement of the Sino-European photovoltaic trade dispute.
In addition, according to Chen Huiqing, director of the Legal Department of the China Chamber of Commerce for Import and Export of Mechanical and Electrical Products, the countervailing investigation is still in progress, and the results of the investigation will be resolved through a price commitment agreement and announced on August 6.
Committed prices and export quotas are the key points that determine the future destiny of Chinese photovoltaic companies, and have therefore become the focus of attention of all parties; however, according to relevant legal requirements, these two data should be kept confidential. This is also silent.
Nevertheless, various versions are still flooding the industry inside and outside, and the expressions of 0.54 euros / watt and 0.57 euros / watt are even more uproar. In this regard, members of the photovoltaic industry, including an executive of a well-known company in Jiangsu, confirmed to Tencent Finance that the negotiations determined that the bottom line price and quota of China's export of photovoltaic modules to Europe were 0.56 euros / watt and 7 GW.
And Wang Runchuan, an analyst of JA Solar Holdings Co., Ltd., told Tencent Finance that this super trade case involves photovoltaic wafers, batteries and modules. In addition to the modules, China and the EU have also developed a separate one for wafers and batteries. Bottom-line prices and quotas, the total quota volume will far exceed 7 GW, exceeding industry industry expectations.
Thanks to the above favorable results, Chinese photovoltaic companies have maintained most of the European market, but due to price commitment restrictions, the price advantage of Chinese photovoltaic products may be weakened, and the European market will face fierce competition from the Korean equivalent industry. In this context, the development of emerging markets and domestic markets has become the focus of many businesses in the future, but this is obviously not easy. What is particularly worrying in the industry is that if domestic companies do not learn the lessons of the "double anti" cases in Europe and the United States, emerging markets may become another waterloo for Chinese photovoltaic companies.
In addition, after experiencing madness and trade disputes, China's photovoltaic industry should indeed reflect on its development model in recent years.

IN OTHER LANGUAGES

Was this article helpful? Thanks for the feedback Thanks for the feedback

How can we help? How can we help?

RELATED ARTICLES