China-based solar manufacturer GCL System Integration Technology recently operationalized  Phase I of the 20 GW high-efficiency n-type TOPCon (tunnel oxide passivated contact) solar cell manufacturing facility at Wuhu in China’s Anhui province.

The facility is now ready to produce 10 GW of solar cells.

The project was developed with an estimated investment of CNY8 billion (~$1.11 billion).

The company said the Wuhu solar cell project is expected to reach full production capacity in the fourth quarter of the current financial year. It would provide high-efficiency solar cell capacity support for large component bases in Hefei and Funing counties of Yancheng in Jiangsu province.

GCL said the facility will have a large-scale, digital, intelligent, high-efficiency photovoltaic cell research, development, and manufacturing base.

Vice Chairman and President of GCL Group and Chairman of GCL Integration Zhu Yufeng said, “GCL Integration will focus on N-type layout with the Wuhu project as the starting point, form a collaborative, competitive advantage at the end of the industrial chain, and become an important promoter and leader of the new generation of photovoltaic technology.”

Quoting analysts, GCL said, “Analysts believe that after GCL Integrated Wuhu Project is put into operation, 87% of its cell production capacity structure is TOPCon, which is a high level in the industry and is expected to fully enjoy the premium dividend.”

Earlier this year, GCL System Integration Technology said it is planning to invest nearly CNY2 billion (~$292 million) to build a high-efficiency solar module facility with an annual capacity of 12 GW in the Funing Economic Development Zone in Jiangsu province. The company said the project is likely to be operational by October 2023.

According to China’s Solar Photovoltaic Portal – Polaris Solar Photovoltaic Network, as the price of polysilicon materials dropped by almost 50% during the first half (1H) of 2023, solar manufacturers in China have scaled up expansion plans with silicon wafers/rods/slices reaching 442 GW, silicon materials reaching 760,000 tons and solar modules and batteries together approaching 1,100 GW during the period.