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Contenders from 40 different countries submitted nominations for the 2022 pv magazine Awards , with more regions represented than ever before. This reflects the growing global relevance of the industry and the importance that all regions are giving to innovation and local production. Here are the seven winners, who will be honored again at a live awards ceremony on January 17, on the sidelines of the World Future Energy Summit in Abu Dhabi.
There are encouraging technology trends across all seven of our award categories, with high-efficiency n-type technology becoming more established in module manufacturing; a comeback of central investors; new battery chemistries that promise a leap in product performance and longevity; increasingly sophisticated AI applications that guide the operation and maintenance of plants; and companies that demonstrate resilience and ingenuity to weather the storms that the last three years have brought to the renewable energy sector, along with many other industries.
The nearly 200 applications received from around the world were reviewed by six juries made up of independent experts in each field. The editorial team of pv magazine thanks all of them for the time they have dedicated to sharing their knowledge.
And the winners are…
Modules
Winner: Huasun Himalaya G12 Series
Aspiring manufacturers such as Chinas Anhui Huasun Energy Co are setting the pace in HJT development.
In August 2021, Huasun announced an efficiency of 25.26% on an M6 (166mm) wafer device, matching the world record. Upgrading to a G12 wafer (210mm), the Himalaya G12 (full name: HS-210-B132DS700) achieves 22.5% module efficiency and 700W power in a 66-cell package. The Himalayas offer the typical advantages of HJTs, such as a lower temperature coefficient of -0.26% and bifaciality of up to 93%. The real innovation, achieved with Maxwell, your cell equipment partner, is in the processes used to deposit the amorphous silicon and transparent conducting oxide (TCO) layers, which reduce light absorption and increase efficiency.
Huasun wants to have a production capacity of 20 GW in 2025 and manufacture cells with an efficiency of more than 25.5%.
Winning Investors : Gamesa Electric Proteus PV
This central inverter of up to 4,700 kVA showed a careful evolution of Gamesas photovoltaic central devices, providing commendable efficiency and characteristics to satisfy a series of demands from solar developers. The comparatively higher efficiencies and power densities of the Proteus, together with Gamesas proven liquid cooling solution, also allow for lower de-rating at high temperatures. Standard features include Q@Night functionality and altitude operation, which together are convincing as part of the solutions effectiveness.
In all award categories. Also join us for the first pv magazine awards ceremony weve been able to host live in several years. Our winners will be honored starting at 7:00 p.m. (GST) on January 17 at the Aloft Hotel in Abu Dhabi, in an event that will be held in parallel with the Global Future Energy Summit. The ceremony will be hosted by pv magazine editor Eckhart K Gouras and editor-in-chief Emiliano Bellini, we hope to see you there!
BOS
Winner: EKO Instruments MS-80SH Pyranometer
EKO Instruments Class A Pyranometer is packed with features that make it stand out in the market for these sensor products that provide the crucial, yet often overlooked service of measuring solar irradiance at a site. The MS-80SH has a built-in dome heating system to keep the sensor free of dew and frost, which can affect measurement accuracy and cause dust and dirt to stick to the outside of the housing dome. the sensors.
The company claims that its pyranometer has the lowest energy consumption on the market and that the heating system can be turned on or off remotely, allowing further energy savings. The product is designed to be easily compatible with data loggers and SCADA systems, and internal diagnostic systems allow users to monitor internal temperature, humidity, pitch, and roll angle without having to visit the site and perform a test. physical check.
BESS
Ganador: Villara Energy Systems: VillaGrid
VillaGrid is a lithium titanate (LTO) residential battery that offers twice the continuous power of conventional lithium-ion batteries, with 10 kW; four times more maximum power, with 30 kW; twice the useful life, with a 20-year guarantee; and more safety, as it is a non-flammable chemical product. Its US manufacturer claims that even the smallest VillaGrid battery, at 5.75 kWh, can support a home during a blackout.
The LTO device does not need a heating or cooling system and works well at temperatures between -30ºC and 55ºC, outperforming other lithium-based chemistries. It can be installed at a height of up to 3,048 meters. VillaGrid is designed to last 25 years, far exceeding the industry average of 10 years. The guaranteed capacity at the end of the guarantee is 70%. "Solar panels last 25 years and batteries too," says Villara.
Manufacturing
Winner: ROSI, High Value Module Recycling
ROSI, based in France, offers solutions to recover the silicon lost during the cutting of wafers and a complete treatment of solar modules at the end of their useful life. “Our goal is to make a truly circular economy a reality for the PV industry and beyond,” the company stated in its award application. “High-value recycling technology enables the reintegration of recovered materials into several key European industries, such as photovoltaics, batteries and semiconductors.”
The company expects to commission its first industrial photovoltaic module recycling plant early this year, with initial capacity to process 3,000 tons of module waste a year, with plans to increase to 10,000 tons next year. Unlike most PV recycling operations to date, ROSI will focus on recovering the high-value materials enclosed in the modules, as well as the glass that makes up the majority of the panels weight. ROSI promises to produce high-purity silver and silicon at its recycling plant, and recover 95% of the economic value of module materials, compared to its estimate that current industry practices only recover 35%.
Sustainability
Winner: Brighten Haiti, Solar4Schools
A presidential assassination, gang violence, outbreaks of dangerous diseases and chronic power shortages as a result of armed street blockades have wreaked havoc among Haitians. Gangs blocked diesel supplies in the capital Port-au-Prince late last year, shutting down schools, hospitals and many other facilities.
The Solar4Schools program of the NGO Brighten Haiti has offered a ray of light.
Brighten Haiti supplies 6 kWp solar systems to schools, each of which it says it can deliver thanks to a $6,000 donation from an American sponsor. According to Brighten Haiti, 54,500 students from 109 schools have benefited.
Solar4Schools takes advantage of the Secure Power islanding capability offered by the German company SMA Solar Technology, which can supply up to 2 kW of power in the event of grid outages at a price that is 87% cheaper than solar power plus storage. In terms of sustainability, the program has "used and dilapidated modules from the US."
Editors Choice
Winner: Growatt
In January 2021, in the midst of the Covid-19 pandemic, we awarded the 2020 pv magazine Editor s Choice award to inverter manufacturer Growatt. Normally we wouldnt have considered the same company just two years later, but Growatt accomplished an amazing feat: battling the pandemic, supply chain constraints, and a severe shortage of semiconductor chips to exceed its 2020 revenue by 69%. This spectacular achievement, coupled with their continued innovation on the product and technology front, makes another Editors Choice for 2022 more than deserved.
Nearly two-thirds of Growatts revenue in 2021, CNY 3.2 billion ($459 million), comes from products sold in the Americas, Europe, the Middle East and Africa. The Shenzhen manufacturer has established itself as a protagonist of the energy transition and is about to become a photovoltaic unicorn with an upcoming public offering in Hong Kong for an estimated value of 1,000 million dollars. |
