More power from compact designs

	The TEA-6B10-40VA model from Xiamen Tenia includes a 3Wp solar panel, 12V 3.3Ah battery and controller.

PV cells and inverters with higher efficiency allow new units to support various devices.

Better performance and user convenience are the focus of R&D efforts at China suppliers of solar generators. Maximizing advancements in PV technology and electronics, many are coming out with models that can power a greater number of lamps, accessories and appliances at home or outdoors.

Foremost among the measures being taken is the adoption of crystalline cells with higher efficiency. Recent systems are fitted with either A or B-grade types, which have ratings of up to 17 percent. In contrast, previous designs employed versions that converted only between 13 and 14 percent of the sunlight they absorbed into electricity. This means that in the same size, a module producing only 200W before is now capable of roughly 230W.

Other suppliers are using more efficient inverters to reduce power loss. Hengtai International Co. Ltd, which manufactures such components in-house, boosted the rating of its units from 60 to over 80 percent in cooperation with a Germany-based company.

Changzhou Seasun New Energy Co. Ltd, meanwhile, adopts variants that can change at least 85 percent of the input DC power into AC electricity.

Besides improving system capacity, suppliers are using these upgrades to come out with compact generators that are easier to store and carry.

Such considerations are particularly important to those offering products 1,000W and below, which are meant for outdoor or emergency applications.

Hengtai’s HT3024 model, designed similar to luggage, can support devices running on AC or DC power, including mobile phones, fans, radios and LCD TVs. The system includes two 15Wp mono- or polycrystalline panels, one 12V 24Ah maintenance-free lead-acid battery, a controller and a 150W sine-wave inverter.

	Changzhou Seasun’s HY-LW150L model has a 20Wp solar panel and a 12V 33Ah battery.

Solar generators are sold in sets consisting of a PV panel, battery, controller and inverter. Prices depend on the specifications of these four components.

For solar panels, suppliers generally outsource crystalline cells and then encapsulate these in-house. Most purchase the devices in Zhejiang, Sichuan, Jiangsu and Hebei provinces, and a few procure from Japan and European companies. Among the major providers are Suntech, China Sunergy and Baoding Tianwei.

The power accumulated by the PV modules is typically stored in a lead-acid battery. This component is likewise often obtained from local specialists or overseas-based enterprises. Controllers and inverters, on the other hand, are commonly assembled in-house.

Prices start below $80 for models that can generate 300W. Entry-level types have a solar panel efficiency of 13 to 15 percent, while inverter ratings are between 60 and 70 percent. These systems typically meet CE requirements and last no more than 15 years.

Sets reaching $110 have a service life of at least 15 years. These adopt PV modules with 15 percent or higher efficiency, and the inverters convert 70 to 80 percent of DC power to usable AC form. They usually have CE and UL certification.

With higher quotes, solar generators employ panels that are 15 to 17 percent efficient, while inverters change 80 percent or more of DC power into the AC type. Lasting up to 20 years, such systems typically meet CE, UL, TÜV and RoHS specifications.

Most makers require a minimum order of 200 sets for models generating less than 1,000W. The MOQ for larger systems is 50.

Mainland China is home to roughly 100 suppliers of solar generators. More than 90 percent of companies are privately owned, while the rest are primarily Hong Kong- or Taiwan-invested ventures.

Large makers account for only 10 percent of the industry yet generate the majority of sales. Earning more than $10 million annually, such enterprises employ over 600 personnel, with at least 20 each in R&D and QC.

Their factories span areas exceeding 10,000sqm. Key processes are carried out in-house, including the production of housings, controllers and inverters.

Comprising approximately 20 percent of the supplier base, companies with annual revenue between $1 million and $10 million typically have plants occupying at least 2,000sqm. Of their 50 to 600 workers, two or more are assigned to conduct R&D. A similarly sized group handles quality inspection and testing.

Enterprises with smaller factories and workforces constitute the rest of the manufacturing pool. Annual sales at these businesses fall below $1 million.