At the foot of the Helan Mountains, under bright sunshine, small outdoor photovoltaic test stations stand out prominently. This is China's largest outdoor photovoltaic testing base—the Yinchuan Outdoor Testing Base of the National Photovoltaic Quality Inspection Center (referred to as the "Yinchuan Base").
The photovoltaic industry has become one of China's globally leading sectors. Data from the General Administration of Customs shows that from 2021 to 2024, China's photovoltaic product exports exceeded 200 billion yuan for four consecutive years. Behind the rapid growth of China's photovoltaic industry, outdoor testing bases like Yinchuan have played a crucial role.
With rapid technological iterations in the photovoltaic sector, next-generation technologies require rigorous validation through field testing. Recently, a visit to the Yinchuan Base revealed empirical results for cutting-edge photovoltaic technologies.
**Providing a Basis for Technological Improvement** Established in 2016, the Yinchuan Base has grown into China's largest third-party outdoor photovoltaic testing facility over the past decade. It offers comprehensive technical services through outdoor testing fields, indoor laboratories, and mobile inspection platforms, effectively filling industry gaps.
"The base has provided testing, validation, research, standardization, and training services to over 300 domestic and international photovoltaic companies," said Wang Bingnan, Chief Technology Officer of the National Photovoltaic Quality Inspection Center. The center has mutual recognition agreements with more than 10 global certification bodies, helping Chinese photovoltaic products expand into overseas markets through field testing.
A key focus of the Yinchuan Base's open day was the outdoor performance of TOPCon and BC modules, which represent the latest mainstream photovoltaic technologies.
"Outdoor testing measures environmental factors like wind speed, temperature, humidity, and rainfall, alongside real-time module performance metrics such as voltage, current, power output, and temperature," explained Wang Jianguo, System Operations Director at the Yinchuan Base. After nearly a year of testing, under identical conditions, Longi Green Energy Technology Co., Ltd.'s BC modules showed a 6.3% power generation gain over TOPCon modules, averaging 965 kWh versus 908 kWh per module.
"The core value of outdoor testing lies in validating technology performance with real-world data, filling industry gaps, and supporting policy-making," Wang Bingnan noted. The Yinchuan Base has accumulated over 50 billion data points, undertaken dozens of research and standardization projects, and released China's first third-party annual report on critical environmental factors in photovoltaic testing.
By comparing different technologies under identical outdoor conditions, the base quantifies metrics like power generation efficiency and degradation rates, providing scientific insights for product improvements.
**Highlighting Competitive Differentiation** Amid intensifying industry competition, experts emphasize that technological innovation and differentiated advantages remain key to gaining an edge—an effective strategy against market saturation.
Recently, Longi Green Energy Technology Co.,Ltd., known for its differentiated approach, secured the photovoltaic industry's first "Triple Protection" certification for its BC-based Hi-MO X10 modules, designed for distributed applications. These modules feature fire prevention, shading resistance, and dust-proofing capabilities—core competitive advantages.
The fire prevention function is particularly critical for distributed photovoltaic systems, often installed in densely populated areas like residential and commercial buildings. Lab tests showed that under 1000W/㎡ irradiation, the "Triple Protection" modules stabilized at 97.1°C, while TOPCon modules reached 169.1°C—a temperature posing significant fire risks due to material degradation.
"Safety and stability are paramount, but return on investment is equally important," remarked a distributed power station owner from Henan visiting the Yinchuan Base. Field data revealed that under long-term shading conditions, the "Triple Protection" modules reduced annual losses by 15,330 yuan per 1MW station compared to TOPCon modules. In simulated shading and dust accumulation scenarios, the BC modules outperformed TOPCon by 48.87% and 6.39% in power generation, respectively.
"Field testing is the most effective way to validate photovoltaic module performance," Wang Bingnan emphasized. As the largest third-party testing base, Yinchuan provides objective data to support industry growth and high-quality development.
Behind the superior performance of BC modules lies Longi Green Energy Technology Co.,Ltd.'s commitment to differentiated technological innovation.
"Longi's modules are the most expensive in the industry, yet our distributed module shipments remain industry-leading," said Niu Yanyan, President of Longi's Distributed Business China Division. The "Triple Protection" modules now account for over 70% of the company's shipments, with Longi maintaining its position as the top supplier in China's commercial and industrial distributed photovoltaic market.
"Scenario-based and differentiated strategies are central to Longi's product philosophy," Niu added. Moving forward, the company will continue driving innovation and deep market insights to deliver superior solutions, steering the photovoltaic industry away from price wars toward value-driven competition.
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