The United States Invests $5 Million in Developing Back Contact N-type Batteries

Recently, the US Department of Energy (DOE) announced an investment of $71 million to address solar energy supply issues, SilfabSolar is one of seven funded projects.

SilfabSolar is a solar cell and module manufacturer headquartered in Toronto. Last year, it announced plans to invest $150 million to build a battery manufacturing plant in York County, South Carolina, which will develop back contact N-type batteries and achieve a battery conversion efficiency of over 26%. The project is expected to have an annual production capacity of 1GW of batteries and 1.2GW of modules, and has received $5 million in funding from the US government.

Currently, Silfab is developing these batteries on a 300MW test line, which will operate in conjunction with Silfab's main N-type battery manufacturing facility in South Carolina. The company reports that the project will be able to quickly expand cost-effective back contact battery technology to mass production of its next solar module series. The Office of Solar Energy Technology (SETO) of the US Department of Energy has also chosen Silfab to receive a separate innovation award to further develop efficient building integrated photovoltaic (BIPV) modules. These modules have opaque glass and can be used for glass surfaces between floors of commercial buildings that do not require transparent glass windows. This $500000 project will be demonstrated at Silfab's factory in Washington.

Recently, the United States has launched a solar cell tariff investigation into China and four Southeast Asian countries where Chinese photovoltaic companies export their overseas products. According to the latest news from foreign media, the White House has confirmed the cancellation of tariff exemptions for double-sided solar modules under Article 201 of the 1974 Trade Act. The government stated that the previously signed double-sided solar module contract can be exempted if it is delivered within 90 days after the exemption clause is cancelled.

The Biden administration also confirmed that the suspension of solar energy imports to four Southeast Asian countries, Cambodia, Malaysia, Thailand, and Vietnam, will end on June 6, 2024. In addition, to encourage the development of upstream solar energy supply chains, the government may increase the tax-free quota for solar cells under Article 201 from the current 5GW by 7.5GW.

In order to prevent cheap imported solar modules from entering the US market, the White House will require tax-free imported modules to be installed within 180 days. The Customs and Border Protection (CBP) will require importers to provide proof of component use and detailed information about the deployed component projects. The Ministry of Energy and the Ministry of Commerce will closely monitor the import mode.