China’s 1st 3G photo-voltaic power station established in Zhejiang

Category: Ningbo District
Published: Sunday, 09 June 2019 07:49

China’s first third-generation photovoltaic power station established in Hong Village of East Zhejiang

June 3rd marks China's establishment of the first household 200KW copper indium gallium selenium (CIGS) distributed photovoltaic power station and its connection to the grid in Zhejiang Hong Village, where rows of photovoltaic panels lie on the roof of the cultural auditorium of Henkantou Village Liangnong Town of Yuyao, and transfer light to electricity.

The power station, China’s first such station set in a village, is built by Ningbo Guoneng Guangnian NewEnergy Co., Ltd with photovoltaic products provided by Shenhua (Beijing) Photovoltaic Technology Research and Development Co., Ltd.

What is CIGS? A new solar cell

CIGS thin-film solar cell refers to a crystalline thin film solar cell whose absorption layer is composed of four elements including copper (Cu), indium (In), gallium (Ga) and selenium (Se) in an optimal proportion. It is regarded as a new

generation of solar cells after monocrystalline silicon cells, polycrystalline silicon cells and amorphous silicon cells.

“It has so many advantages like low production cost, low pollution, low recession and good weak light performance. Its photoelectric conversion efficiency ranks first among all kinds of thin film solar cells, with a much lower cost.” Said Zhang Bo, CEO of Shenhua (Beijing) Photovoltaic Technology Research and Development Co., Ltd.

Good weak light performance and insensitivity to light angle mean that the cell can still work and generate more electricity in a low-light environment, and low recession brings longer cell service life. The national standard requires that recession rate of crystalline silicon components should be kept under 2.5% to 3% in the first year, less than 0.7% rise each year thereafter, and below 20% in the 25th year. It has been carefully measured and estimated that CIGS photovoltaic components report nearly zero recession in the first25 years.

Apart from high photoelectric conversion efficiency and long service life, thin film photovoltaic products have good flexibility and look pleasing to the eye. Therefore they are preferred to use in architecture and can enter more household in the form of photovoltaic curtain wall.

Hong Village demonstration area saves 60,000 yuan electric charge every year

CIGS, as a product out of thin film photovoltaic technology, is enjoying increasing popularity. Over the years, magnate photovoltaic companies like China Shenhua Group and China National Building Material Group that can change China’s photovoltaic industry have started to focus on this area. Shenghua cooperated with Shanghai Electric and the German photovoltaic producer Manz AG to invest in the Shenhua Thin Film Solar Energy Project whose annual production capacity amounts to 306MW in Chongqing..

The power station built in Henkantou is Shenhua’s first domestic CIGS demonstration R&D project.

The roof of the 2,000-square-meter cultural auditorium is covered with dark blue solar film, displaying the 200KW CIGS distributed photovoltaic power station project, which integrates with the whole building.

“The blue roof is expected to generate 200,000 kWh per year, and the village and company behind the project follow a 40% to 60% revenue division. That is, we can save over 60,000 electric charges per year. This will lessen our village’s electricity burden and deepen the green and energy-saving awareness among villagers.” said deputy secretary of Hengkantou Village party committee