The Energy Taiwan & Net-Zero Taiwan 2024 trade show got off to a slow start as the threat of Typhoon Krathon resulted in the cancellation of the first two days of the event in Taipei. However, Taiwan’s Economic Minister Kuo Jyh-huei still held an opening press conference, unveiling a roadmap to net-zero emissions by 2050.
While the tropical cyclone ravaged the island’s southern coast and left thousands of homes without power, Taipei emerged largely unscathed, making the schedule changes regrettable. Despite these disruptions, the event showcased a dazzling array of technologies, including PV solutions, electric vehicle charging systems and energy storage options, all aimed at transforming Taiwan’s energy landscape.
“Typhoons are a very seasonal event,” said Steven Lin, product manager at Voltronic Power Technology, which specializes in uninterruptible power supplies, solar inverters and electric vehicle chargers. “The typhoons will disappear within a few days, so it’s not really a disruption.” Lin expressed more concern about potential geopolitical impacts on operations than about weather-related disruptions.
Path to zero
Taiwan aims to have a solar capacity of 20 GW by 2025, from about 14 GW now, and will expand to between 40 GW and 60 GW by 2050. Companies such as TSEC Corp. are stepping up their efforts and producing tunnel oxide passivated contact (TOPCon) and passivated emitter and back cell (PERC) solar cells and panels with an annual capacity of 1.5 GW and an efficiency of up to 24.25%.
Jackson CK Lu, account manager for TSEC, said the company is focusing on the Taiwanese market but is also eyeing opportunities in the United States. He noted that using traceable materials that comply with U.S. customs regulations could position TSEC favorably in the U.S. market, but explained that the company is currently primarily interested in supplying solar cells in the United States, rather than in finished modules.
The company recently launched its QUANTUM TOPCon solar panels, which deliver 520W to 540W with up to 22.8% efficiency. Each panel features a monocrystalline TOPCon cell, measures 2,093 mm x 1,134 mm x 35 mm and weighs 25.5 kg. The modules comply with international standards, backed by a 12-year material warranty and a 30-year linear performance warranty.
Lu emphasized the industry’s pursuit of higher power output to reduce costs. He said current PERC panels peak at about 500W, while TOPCon panels can reach 590W to 600W. He described the shift from multicrystalline to mono-PERC and now to TOPCon as a ‘quantum leap’, with TOPCon cells achieving an average of 25% efficiency compared to PERC’s 23.5%. The company also develops perovskite technology.
“In Taiwan, space is limited, so most customers look for smaller panels,” Lu said, referring to TSEC’s SkyHawk panel series for roof applications. “But if they want more power, we will promote our new TOPCon series.”
Motech, meanwhile, showcased innovations in building-integrated solar photovoltaics (BIPV) and agrivoltaics. The company’s BIPV panels produce between 350W and 600W, but the company faces challenges in Taiwan due to limited government support and low consumer interest.
A spokesperson for Motech said only about 40% of Taiwan’s territory is open to solar installations – far less than in more advanced markets such as Germany. Still, the company remains optimistic about future policy changes and is pursuing floating PV projects and carports to expand its market reach.
Motech’s spokesperson noted growing customer interest in BIPV, pointing to a potential new trend. However, he recognized the need for a clearer policy, especially compared to Germany, which actively promotes agrivoltaic energy.
“We want more customers and manufacturers to push the government to change policies for both BIPV and agri-PV,” he said.
URE Corp. – formed from the 2018 merger of Neo Solar Power (NSP), Gintech Energy and Solartech Energy – outlined its strategic initiatives at Energy Taiwan 2024. The company said it aims to develop TOPCon solar cells with a target efficiency of 30% next years, building on the current 26%. A spokesperson said URE also aims to provide enterprise storage solutions for the commercial and industrial (C&I) sector in Europe.
URE said it will likely make the full transition to TOPCon technology next year, while continuing some PERC production to meet ongoing obligations to existing customers. The R&D team is also working on perovskite tandem cells.
Storage solutions
Formosa Smart Energy Tech Corp. (FSET) plans to expand the capacity of its energy storage solutions from 150 MW to 450 MW via its lithium iron phosphate (LFP) batteries within two years, to become Taiwan’s largest LFP producer. The company recently completed the first 2.1 GWh production capacity for LFP cells and modules in Changhua Province – the largest automated facility of its kind in Taiwan. Mass production will begin in November and the company aims to eventually expand its annual production to more than 5 GWh.
In addition, FSET plans to establish a battery recycling facility as part of an extended domestic supply chain. LFP cells are versatile and designed for a variety of applications, including electric vehicles, energy storage systems, electric buses, home energy storage solutions and UPS applications. Their thermal stability and safety profile make them suitable for large-scale deployment.
Recharge Power, a subsidiary of J&V Energy Technology, showcased its battery energy storage systems at Energy Taiwan, including projects in Taiwan and Thailand. The battery storage systems integrator also has an engineering, procurement and construction (EPC) business in Taiwan, in addition to offering energy management services (EMS).
It has a track record of 299 MW/617 MWh in project construction in Taiwan, including an alkaline fuel cell plant for state-owned Taipower and a solar-plus-storage array. Earlier this year, J&V Group announced plans to work on three of Taiwan’s largest energy storage sites, each with a capacity of 100 MW. It has started construction on a 200 MW capacity, expected to be completed within two years, to stabilize Taiwan’s power grid and integrate more renewable energy sources into the island’s network.
Solar energy recycling
Alex Peng, founder and chairman of RePVTech, said the company aims to recycle up to 60% of PV module materials using ethylene vinyl acetate (EVA) technology. It works with Taiwan’s Industrial Technology Research Institute (ITRI) and partners in Japan and Germany to promote a circular solar economy.
RePVTech uses advanced EVA film technology in its recycling process to effectively separate aluminum, glass, silicon, silver and copper, enabling the intact reuse of glass and silicon. Peng noted that there is a need for better practices for reuse and recycling of PV modules as current methods often involve grinding waste, which leads to significant material loss. By working with Japanese partners, RePVTech aims to generate annual revenue from recycling existing PV waste instead of waiting decades for returns from PV projects at the end of their life.
“In the next two years, there will be a waste boom from Japan, from Europe,” Peng said. “So we are working very closely with the US, Japan, India and Europe to build this global ecosystem.”
Agricultural voltaic energy and aquaculture
New Green Power (NGP) started with solar projects in Japan and Taiwan a decade ago and has since attracted investment from BlackRock and Google. It operates floating, rooftop and ground-mounted solar energy systems in Taiwan and is exploring dual-use options such as agrivoltaics and fisheries integration.
Despite regulatory challenges and farmer misconceptions about solar energy, NGP says it remains committed to sustainability and is expanding into electric vehicle charging and battery storage solutions.
“The most promising thing in the coming years will still be dual-use,” says Leo Seewald, chairman of NGP. pv magazine. “But we are excited about doing agricultural activities because there is a lot of land in Taiwan that is no longer cultivated.”
Despite weather disruptions, the Energy Taiwan & Net-Zero Taiwan 2024 trade fair saw 470 exhibitors in attendance, an increase of 25% from the previous year. Tesla Business Development Manager Tim McBride neatly summarized the week’s key concerns by highlighting how grid resilience in the Powerwall home battery system, like ‘stormwatch’, helps keep homes powered during power outages. And Prem Chandan, R&D manager for lithium titanium oxide (LTO) battery maker GUS Technology, underlined the importance of longevity and recycling in sustainable battery production, so that batteries can be reused for future use.
“Going green doesn’t just mean producing batteries,” says Chandan. “It’s much easier to recycle. And these battery components, for example the LTO, if you recycle them, you can use them in many other applications.”
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