In the wave of the global green energy transition, High-Efficiency Heterojunction (HJT) cell technology has become the focus of the photovoltaic industry due to its outstanding performance and huge market potential. On September 6, 2024, the High-Efficiency HJT 740W+ Club successfully held its sixth roundtable meeting at the Shangri-La Hotel in Pudong, Shanghai, bringing together top experts and business elites from the photovoltaic sector to discuss the future.

“Different today, stacked for tomorrow,” this roundtable was chaired by Anhui Guangshi Energy. It saw the participation of 13 leading companies in the heterojunction industry, including Anhui Huasheng New Energy, Dongfang Risheng, Mingyang Solar, Guangdong Quanwei Technology, State Power Investment New Energy, Guosheng Technology, King Kong Solar, Liansheng Photovoltaic Technology, Shanghai Hengxi Solar, Tongwei Co., Ltd., China National Building Material Juxin, Zhejiang Runhai New Energy, and Solefiori Technology Company (listed in alphabetical order by Chinese name). They gathered to discuss the development and trends in the heterojunction sector.

Zhao Xuewen, Chairman of Anhui Guangshi Energy, chaired the meeting. He opened the discussion by pointing out, “Since its establishment in March, the 740W+ Club has held six roundtable meetings, continuously attracting new outstanding companies. The club has now reached a critical juncture. In an increasingly complex market environment, how should heterojunction companies balance cost reduction and efficiency improvement, develop technology, and effectively promote their reputation to expand market reach and brand value?” This introduced several key topics for the meeting’s discussions.

Cost Reduction and Efficiency Improvement: Focusing on the Future of the Industry

HJT, as a new photovoltaic technology, has been surrounded by controversy and skepticism since its inception. Especially in today's highly competitive market, with ongoing debates between Topcon and BC technologies, how can HJT leverage its strengths and secure a foothold in the market?

Zhang Zhongwei, President of the Photovoltaic Division at Guosheng Technology, stated, “With floating electricity price policies being introduced across many regions, future grid requirements for generation cost, efficiency, and stability will gradually increase. This presents an unprecedented opportunity for heterojunction technology. We must focus more on technological development, improve energy efficiency, and create new products that meet market demands. At the same time, we should promote technologies such as silver-coated copper and 0BB to gradually reduce system-level cost per kilowatt-hour.”

Zhao Xuewen, Chairman of Anhui Guangshi Energy, noted, “By the first half of 2025, the cost of HJT cells will be on par with Topcon. However, as costs decrease, efficiency must be ensured. Increasing efficiency through measures like improving bifaciality will enhance product advantages while maintaining cost control.”

Li Changhong, CEO of Solefiori Technology Company, emphasized, “For the 740W+ Club, improving efficiency is our goal and mission. As costs rise and resources become scarcer, efficient generation will have a greater competitive edge. Heterojunction companies should collaborate with industry organizations to release relevant experimental data and create new standards that balance efficiency and cost, ensuring that both cost reduction and efficiency improvement move forward together.” In the face of the harsh current market, he stated that positive changes are always hidden within difficult situations, so all members must stay committed to their direction and jointly promote the development and maturity of HJT technology.

Unity in Action, Avoiding Homogeneous Competition

In the fifth closed-door meeting of the club, some members had already reached a consensus on avoiding price wars among members. At this meeting, further discussions were held, and it was agreed that a series of member standards would be developed to maintain fair pricing in the heterojunction sector and promote healthy industry progress.

Tang Xuan, Executive Vice President of Liansheng Photovoltaic Technology, offered a deep insight into the current industry situation, stating, “Homogeneous competition is becoming increasingly apparent in the current photovoltaic market, with low-price competition intensifying. This poses a serious challenge to the healthy development of the industry. We urge HJT companies to strengthen communication and cooperation, explore differentiated development paths, and ensure reasonable profit margins to avoid falling into a vicious cycle of price wars and promote the sustained prosperity and advancement of the photovoltaic industry.”

Tang Doudou, Vice President of Liansheng Photovoltaic Technology, stressed, “Members of the 740W+ Club should deepen collaboration, improve communication, and avoid price wars and order disputes. Healthy competition should be used to maintain market order and promote win-win development.”

Leveraging Strengths, Focusing on Market Voice

During the meeting, members reviewed and assessed the outcomes of the previous five meetings. The 740W+ Club set four initial goals: integrating the industry supply chain, brand building, technological collaboration, and sales market development. Now, after five rounds of discussions and exchanges, HJT technology has made significant progress in standardization and industrialization. However, there are still areas that need improvement. Members had a heated discussion on how to drive the club’s positive development and truly promote cost reduction and efficiency improvement in the industry.

Wang Jin, General Manager of the Silicon Wafer Division at Anhui Huasheng New Energy, suggested, “Members of the club should collaborate closely to break through operational barriers, streamline the supply chain system, and integrate pricing and categorization from the sales perspective to promote upstream and downstream collaboration in the industry.”

On brand building, Liu Chang, founder of Solarzoom, stated, “As the primary media voice for heterojunction companies, Solarzoom will take on the responsibility of continuously advocating for club members and HJT technology, becoming a thought leader in the photovoltaic industry. At the same time, we will actively seek external partnerships, refer to media in other industries, and expand the reach and depth of the heterojunction sector’s voice.”

Regarding the sales market, Dr. Guo Wanwu, Vice General Manager of China National Building Material Juxin, pointed out, “The lifespan of photovoltaic materials is a crucial factor in improving the value of heterojunction products and has a positive impact on the proportion of HJT modules in large-scale tenders. Member companies should strengthen materials R&D to improve product stability and reliability. At the same time, market promotion should be enhanced to raise awareness and influence of HJT technology both within and outside the industry, laying a solid foundation for market expansion.”

Liu Suiping, Vice Chairman of Mingyang Solar, argued, “Among the current technologies—TOPCon, HJT, and BC—HJT’s specific application scenarios at the power station end should be explored to enhance station profitability. In the existing market trading environment for power stations, the core issue for clients is ensuring generation revenue, electricity price, and grid-connected volume.”

Qiu Wenkai, Executive General Manager of Mingyang Solar, elaborated on the application side, saying, “In March this year, Guangdong Province completed China’s first household photovoltaic green power transaction. Today, the value of electricity generation’s green rights is becoming more prominent. With so many photovoltaic products on the market, we should leverage our technological advantages, focusing on the low-carbon footprint and high bifaciality of HJT for specialized power station designs. Photovoltaic power stations will not only focus on electricity generation but also on enhancing flexibility, reliability, and green rights value, which is the core direction for HJT’s value in the market.”

During the meeting, participants also had in-depth discussions on the specific application scenarios for HJT technology, technology routes, production transformation, policy direction, and financial support. They unanimously agreed that HJT technology, as a new productive force in the photovoltaic industry, has vast development prospects and market potential. Through strengthened industry communication and cooperation, and joint efforts in technological innovation and industrial upgrading, HJT technology will play an increasingly important role in the global green energy transition.

Looking Ahead

The High-Efficiency HJT 740W+ Club will continue to serve as a bridge and link, gathering industry wisdom, stimulating innovation, and leading the ongoing progress of HJT technology. The club will contribute to building a clean, low-carbon, safe, and efficient energy system. We firmly believe that with collective efforts, the future of HJT technology will be even more brilliant, and the photovoltaic industry will have infinite possibilities, together writing a magnificent chapter in the green energy era.