Throughout the world, energy prices have been rising – the rapid economic recovery from the COVID-19 pandemic, extreme weather conditions, increasing population and tightening supplies of natural gas and oil are all attributing to increased energy costs. In China, under its National Strategy of green and low-carbon transformation, construction of new renewable energy power systems has been successfully proposed, and the development space of China's photovoltaic (PV) industry is ripe for growth and innovation.
Throughout the world, energy prices have been rising for various reasons – the rapid economic recovery from the COVID-19 pandemic, extreme weather conditions, increasing population and tightening supplies of natural gas and oil – just to name a few. Internationally, the European energy crisis has triggered the reshaping of European energy, and the construction of renewable energy power is expected to accelerate. In China, under its National Strategy of green and low carbon transformation, construction of new renewable energy power systems has been successfully proposed, and the development space of China's photovoltaic (PV) industry is ripe for growth and innovation.
Renewable energy projects continue to make significant progress in China, including the construction of large wind and PV bases in the Gobi Desert. In 2022, solar power added 87.41 million KW, accounting for 57.41% of the total newly installed renewable energy capacity. Plus, China's renewable energy generation reached 2.7 trillion KWh, of which wind and PV power reached 1.19 trillion KWh, according to data released this February by the China National Energy Administration.
Since 2012, global and China's PV installed capacity growth rate has been 21% (see figure 1) and 26% (see figure 2), respectively. Considering China's significant advantages in the global PV industry chain, such as silicon materials, silicon wafers, battery cells, and modules, China's PV industry will also benefit from the accelerated progress of global new energy construction.
Figure 1. Trend of global annual PV installed capacity growth.
Figure 2. Trend of annual PV installed capacity growth in China.
There are many types of PV systems, including centralized and distributed systems found on commercial and industrial building roofs, farm and ranch roofs, and factory roofs, as well as residential roofs.
The diversity of application components brings various requirements for structures and materials, along with innovation and development, cost reduction and efficiency enhancement in the PV industry. However, there are challenges facing the PV industry too.
Compared to traditional metal materials, plastics have the advantages of being lightweight with design flexibility, along with a lower cost. Plus, against the backdrop of carbon neutrality and peak carbon emissions, the demand for sustainable products and carbon reduction is becoming more than a want, but a need, for many industries, including the PV industry.
Compared to traditional thermal power, PV power generation has lower carbon emissions, and our carbon reduction materials solutions can help you move closer to carbon neutrality.
We have made a global commitment to produce bio-based and recycled-based alternatives for our entire material portfolio by 2030. Currently our Akulon® products with bio-based mass balance and Akulon® RePurposed products are made from recyclable materials.
We also established an internal department for calculating carbon emissions. Thus, purchasing our materials solutions can help you quickly calculate external carbon reduction data, allowing you to focus your efforts on calculating internal carbon emission reduction data.
Components in a PV system include the body connector, nuts and claw. The body connector requires UL (f1) certification, V-0@1.5mm, CTI≥600V and resistance to chemical corrosion. Like the body connector, the nuts and claw of the PV system need to be resistant to chemical corrosion, and requires UL (f1) certification, high toughness at 23°C and -40°C, V-0@1.5mm, CTI≥600V.
Many different requirements for chemical corrosion resistance exist in different application scenarios. In pasture PV systems, the body connector needs to be resistant to ammonia and hydrogen sulfide corrosion. In farm PV systems, the body connector needs to be resistant to pesticide corrosion. In desert PV systems, the body connector needs to be resistant to lubricating oil corrosion. And in factory rooftop PV systems, the connector body must be resistant to the potential corrosion caused by chemical gases or dust.
As Nylon has a much better chemical resistance than PC plastics and polyphenylene oxide (PPO), Envalior’s Akulon® series materials achieve a good balance between mechanical strength, aesthetics and value, with excellent wear resistance, impact strength and heat resistance, and can resist ultraviolet rays and moisture.
Akulon® SG-KGS5/HV has 25% glass fiber reinforcement, high fluidity, and is halogen-free and red phosphorus-free. Akulon® Ultraflow XG-FKGS6/A has 30% glass fiber reinforcement and is halogen-free flame retardant. Both grades of solutions are very suitable for the needs of photovoltaic connector bodies. Also, Akulon® S225-KS (PA66 FR (30)) and K225-KS (PA6 FR (30)) meets the requirements for nuts and claw applications.
Our advanced materials also play a significant role for PV inverter components. PV inverters require flame retardant wire terminals and phase spacers with high dielectric strength, high heat distortion temperature and RTI-electrical. Plus, the PV inverter needs to maintain good toughness at 23°C and -40°C. Inverter housings require high flow, UV and weather resistance and flame retardancy, and inverter brackets require high strength and need to be UV, weather and chemical corrosion resistant.
As the PV industry grows, we expect that plastics will be increasingly used in the PV industry in the future, and we are here to help you navigate the industry and learn which materials will meet and exceed your PV system applications requirements.
With experience in both the low-voltage electrical and automotive industry for many years, we have complete solutions for lightweighting PV system components and for miniature circuit breakers, plastic circuit breakers, contactors and fuses. Join forces with us to utilize lighter and more sustainable materials and to move towards the forefront of PV industry development.
Application Development Manager at Envalior Engineer Materials
In 2021 Liu Bing joined Envalior Engineer Materials as an application development manager of electronics for Greater China North. He is responsible for many electrical customers, including Schneider, ABB, Siemens and Eaton. In 2022, he became Envalior’s application development manager of photovoltaics. He develops and oversees PV connector and invertor projects.
14 March 2023
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