Hanergy becomes the world's largest thin film photovoltaic company

On November 29th, Hanergy Group CEO Li Hejun proudly announced in Beijing that Hanergy had become the world's largest thin-film photovoltaic company. With an annual production capacity of 3 gigawatts (GW), the company is capable of generating 4 billion kilowatt-hours (kWh) of electricity per year. This impressive output is enough to meet the urban electricity needs of approximately 10 million people.

Unlike many Chinese crystalline silicon solar companies that have struggled due to anti-dumping measures from Europe and the U.S., Hanergy Thin Film Solar has managed to avoid such challenges and continues to look towards the future with optimism. Since entering the thin-film solar photovoltaic industry in 2009, the company has invested over 27 billion yuan in establishing research and manufacturing bases across multiple locations in China, including Guangdong, Heyuan, Sichuan Shuangliu, Haikou, Shandong Yucheng, Zhejiang Changxing, and Jiangsu Wujin.

“It took us a year and a half to screen more than 700 companies worldwide before identifying five key firms for acquisition. These strategic partnerships have placed us at the forefront of thin-film solar technology,” Li Hejun stated. “Currently, we possess three out of the seven leading thin-film solar technologies, placing us on par with global leaders in this field.”

The photovoltaic industry is divided into two primary technical pathways: crystalline silicon and thin-film. While crystalline silicon solar energy is well-known to the general public, Li Hejun believes that the low cost of crystalline silicon has contributed to the current difficulties faced by China’s PV sector. “Five or six years ago, thin-film solar was not widely adopted, but today it has become the focus of innovation. Crystalline silicon has lower technical and financial barriers, which attracted numerous companies during the peak profit years. However, this has led to significant losses in this ‘industrial winter,’ with at least 50% of these companies facing bankruptcy,” he explained.

The production process of thin-film photovoltaic cells differs significantly from that of crystalline silicon solar cells. Thin-film technology requires fewer resources, involves less pollution, and offers shorter energy recovery periods. Additionally, it boasts greater flexibility and better performance under low-light conditions.

“From Hanergy’s perspective, our operations align closely with the seven strategic emerging industries prioritized by the nation. Our initiatives have spurred the growth of 85 industries, including glass, steel, plastics, and logistics, and have supported over 1,026 small and medium-sized enterprises,” Li Hejun added.

This marks just the beginning. Drawing from international experiences in distributed generation, the integration of photovoltaic systems into buildings is becoming increasingly common. Many European countries have achieved over 80% integration of photovoltaic building applications. China is following suit, particularly as the government has recently issued several policies encouraging distributed generation.

“With approximately 89 billion square meters of urban and rural construction space available in China, even the most conservative estimates suggest that by 2020, this could yield a capacity of 1 billion kilowatts, equivalent to the combined current installed capacity of thermal, hydro, and nuclear power. This would equate to constructing 45 Three Gorges Projects, driving direct output worth 10 trillion yuan and indirectly boosting another 20 trillion yuan in output, while reducing carbon dioxide emissions by 1.3 billion tons,” Li Hejun noted.

Former U.S. President Barack Obama once projected that by 2025, clean energy would account for 25% of global energy usage. Similarly, UN Secretary-General Ban Ki-moon predicted that by 2030, this figure would rise to 30%. Li Hejun envisions that under the influence of thin-film solar technology, clean energy could replace 50% of traditional fossil fuels by 2035, effectively solving the global energy shortage crisis.

Should this vision materialize sooner rather than later, conflicts over oil resources might cease, and oil prices could return to their historical levels of $20-$30 per barrel.

To help realize this dream, Hanergy partnered with a climate organization on November 29th to launch the “Global Initiative for Clean Energy Alternatives.” Through collaborative efforts involving policy, technology, capital, and market integration, they aim to work alongside governments, businesses, and societies to promote global sustainability.