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More than 200 nominations from 39 countries were submitted to pv magazine s 2023 Awards , and there was real innovation in every category. In 2023, the solar and energy storage industry has had to face great demands, but that has not stopped the sector from making great leaps in performance. The winners of the 2023 pv magazine Awards serve as shining examples of what can be achieved through a philosophy of continuous improvement.
The eight winners of the pv magazine Awards 2023 have already been chosen , in a year that has been characterized by innovation at all levels, from module manufacturing to project development.
Despite falling module prices and high inventory levels in 2023, the industry has not focused solely on reducing costs and curbing losses. Instead, a determined pursuit of high performance has continued, as solar and storage companies have used technical innovation to stand out from the competition. Technological ambition was evident across the board, even among participants in the new Projects category. 59 innovative solar and storage projects were submitted, and choosing the winner was no easy task.
A total of 19 independent expert juries deliberated on this years nominations, bringing a wealth of experience and knowledge to the process. The pv magazine editorial team would like to thank all of them for the time they have dedicated to the selection process.
Jonathan Gifford, editor-in-chief of pv magazine , commented on the innovations presented for 2023 and said that they represent real solutions to the great challenges facing the solar energy and storage sectors. “Solar energy and energy storage companies continue to demonstrate truly extraordinary levels of innovation and launch new products and services that answer the key challenges of cost, performance and flexibility. “The increasing number of entries across the eight award categories also speaks to the breadth and scale of the creativity and technical prowess inherent in our industries.”
And the winners are…
Winner: Risen Energy, Hyper-ion
A power of more than 700 W is a notable achievement in any solar module, but the Modules 2023 winner has a ton of innovations inside that set it apart. In addition to its heterojunction (HJT) cell, Hyper-ion employs Risens proprietary version of busbarless (0BB) cell interconnection, called Hyper-link, an industry-leading 90 to 100 micrometer cell thickness, and the option of a steel frame to create a module that really stands out.
The efficiency and power results are also notable. The modules technical sheet confirms that the Hyper-ion has a power of 680-705 W, dimensions of 2,384 mm x 1,303 mm and a weight of 41 kg. Inside are 210mm HJT cells cut in half.
Beyond performance, Risen has beefed up its warranty, putting it ahead of its TOPCon rivals. It offers a 15-year product warranty and a 30-year power warranty, guaranteeing 90.3% of the rated power.
Projects
Winner: Solar Cooling Engineering, PV Cool Kenya
German company Solar Cooling Engineering (SCE) has taken an innovative approach to cooling with its Cool Kenya PV project. SCE has developed a solar cooling technology based on a sustainable refrigerant (R600a) and insulating materials.
Unlike cold rooms that rely on traditional grid-connected cooling methods, the SelfChill system uses modular thermal storage to balance cooling peaks. The water is cooled and frozen, and stored in a water chiller that supplies cold water to a fan coil inside the cold room. In this way, energy fluctuations can be balanced by the energy stored in the form of ice.
A battery can be added if desired, but is not a necessary component of the system. SCE chose to create a direct current unit powered by photovoltaic modules.
Investors
Winner: Deye Technologies SUN-29.9-50K-SG01HP3
This years winner is Deye Technologies SUN-29.9-50K-SG01HP3, a hybrid inverter for the C&I market. It is available in powers from 29 kW to 50 kW and is ideal for retrofitting. The inverters 400 AC output is suitable for older installations, making it a good candidate for retrofitting PV plants.
Cormac Gilligan, director of clean energy technology at S&P Global and member of the category jury, stated that in Europe there is a growing market for the renewal and modernization of solar systems with the incorporation of battery systems to increase self-consumption. In his opinion, the flexibility of the Deye inverter is a notable feature. For example, it can be cascaded to a 500 kW application and run completely isolated from the grid. The option to connect a diesel generator set and charge the batteries that way means this inverter could meet demand in regions where weak grids predominate.
Manufacturing
Winner: Origami Solar, laminated recycled steel frame
Origami Solar is launching production of its patent-pending steel frame design with contract manufacturers in the United States. The frames are expected to be available in late 2023.
The frames are made from recycled steel in a continuous process that Origami Solar says is 10 times faster than manufacturing aluminum frames, producing one frame every 15 seconds. It also claims that the frames have demonstrated greater rigidity in testing, making the modules better equipped to withstand heavy snow or wind loads. More testing is underway with partners such as the US National Renewable Energy Laboratory.
As for price, the company hopes to be able to sell frames at least 5% cheaper than its aluminum competitors. There are also arguments in favor of sustainability. Origami Solar has worked with consulting firm Boundless Impact to demonstrate that the carbon footprint per module is significantly lower.
Sustainability
Winner: ArcelorMittal, XCarb and Magnelis
Steel multinational ArcelorMittal claims its XCarb steel is durable and sustainable. XCarb is a certified low-carbon material and the company reports that it is manufactured primarily from scrap steel, with production carried out using an electric arc furnace using 100% renewable energy.
The manufacturers Magnelis steel also has sustainability credentials. Its long useful life makes it ideal for solar installations in difficult environments. Magnelis steel is a carbon steel hot-dip galvanized on both sides and coated with a zinc, aluminum and magnesium alloy. “Anything you can do to make a solar asset last longer is a positive climate impact,” said juror Jenny Chase, a BloombergNEF solar analyst.
ArcelorMittal aims to reduce CO2 emissions intensity per ton of crude steel by 25% by 2030.
BESS
Winner: Fluence, UltrastackTM
US storage specialist Fluence has developed a storage-as-transport (SATA) asset that can help network owners and operators manage renewable curtailment, increase the use of power lines and limit congestion. UltrastackTM provides network owners and operators with fast response of less than 150 milliseconds and greater than 99% system uptime to meet critical infrastructure availability requirements. Its advanced control applications, some patent pending, include synthetic inertia, power swing damping control, network-forming inertia, dynamic voltage control, emergency electrical contribution, and black start.
Unlike “regular” large batteries, SATA projects work to mimic transmission line flows by injecting and absorbing energy. In such applications, they can be used to reinforce or even replace existing power lines, offering infrastructure planners a new and versatile solution for transmission transition.
B.O.S.
Winner: Atonometrics, RDE300i
American company Atonometrics focuses on large-scale solar projects with its innovative RDE300i monitoring system. The system measures the current/voltage (IV) curves of a chain of modules in situ. This allows technicians to gain a direct view of the performance of individual modules in an array and eliminates the costs associated with installing and maintaining reference modules at a site.
The manufacturer emphasizes that in situ measurement of the IV curve could be useful on many fronts of plant monitoring, and that it is working with laboratories and industrial partners to develop new applications of this technology.
For now, the RDE300is application focuses on dirt control. In this case, the system promises more precise results than those usually obtained with reference modules or optical sensors, and can also be integrated with these systems so that control equipment has all the bases covered.
Editors Choice
Winner: JinkoSolar
Its about time we recognized the top module manufacturers in this category, and its no easy task. There are many module manufacturers with a strong track record and an impressive product portfolio.
In 2023, the recognition goes to JinkoSolar, which has supplied more photovoltaic modules than any other manufacturer. In November 2023, JinkoSolar reached the historic mark of 200 GW of modules supplied since it delivered its first panels in 2010. The manufacturer has quickly moved to TOPCon type n and the higher efficiencies it offers. In October 2023, the company announced a new n-type TOPCon cell efficiency record of 26.89% for a 182 mm cell.
But JinkoSolar is much more than a module manufacturer. It has expanded its product portfolio to include battery energy storage systems (BESS) to offer its customers around the world a complete solution that includes both next-generation modules and the most advanced BESS technology. |
