On Wednesday, 9 April 2025, Energynomics in collaboration with Green Energy Expo & Romenvirotec, is organising the conference “Energy Day with Energynomics”, at Romexpo Exhibition Complex, Bd. Mărăști 65-67, pavilion B2 – an ideal platform to demonstrate companies’ commitment to green innovations and solutions. The conference and exhibition will also showcase the latest developments in renewable energy and energy efficiency technologies. In preparation for the April meeting, we spoke to LONGi one of the 500 brand to join the event.
What innovative solutions or new technologies is LONGi prepared to bring to the attention of visitors at Green Energy Expo & Romenvirotec?
At Green Energy Expo & Romenvirotec, LONGi will launch its next-generation high-end back contact solar module for the Romanian market – the Hi-MO X10. The module is based on LONGi’s new HPBC 2.0 technology and is equipped with the company’s new proprietary n-type TaiRay wafer and Bipolar Hybrid Passivation Technology which brings significant improvements in efficiency, mechanical characteristics and reliability. In addition, it comes with 0BB-structure (zero-busbar), a multi-layer design for increased performance, as well as a shading optimizer technology that reduces the loss of power output by 70% compared to TOPcon modules. All in all, the Hi-MO X10 sets a performance benchmark with a maximum 670W power output, and 24.8% module efficiency, and 26.6% cell efficiency. It outperforms conventional TOPCon modules by 30W on the same size. LONGi aims to achieve approximately 50GW production capacity for HPBC 2.0 modules by the end of 2025.
How do current regulations and support schemes influence the development of the photovoltaic sector in Romania?
There are several subsidy schemes (Case Verde, RepowerEU, etc) which are supporting the penetration of the PV installations both in residential and industrial applications. These subsidies are crucial to support the further growth of PV installations which support to reach the decarbonization targets or Romania.
What are the main challenges in integrating solar energy into the energy system and how can they be overcome?
When we look at more mature PV markets, we see overall in Europe increased issues for the grid and balancing capacities. There are not only bottlenecks in the local infrastructure but also the balancing needs of renewable energy puts an increased pressure on the Transmission System Operators (TSO). Consequently, balancing energy costs have drastically increased, particularly in countries with not enough balancing capacities. Due to the increased electricity output of PV, in markets with already high penetration of PV, the regular daily electricity price curve has completely changed. Compared to earlier highly priced daily peak hours, we see low (or even negative) prices in hours with high PV output, while prices in the early morning and late afternoon hours (when the electricity demand is high) show extremely high pricing in certain markets. These challenges can be partially overcome for example by new and better solar module technologies. For example, the Back Contact Technology of Longi is prolonging the PV production hours of PV systems while they offer significantly better low-light performance than regular front-busbar products (up to 18-20% over TOPCON during early morning and late afternoon hours). However clearly, the solution is the increased installation of electricity storage facilities and solutions (using them for balancing services or even arbitration for electricity prices in between hours) which will definitely boost in the coming years.
What kind of reluctances / fears / misunderstandings among potential customers do you plan to address with the visitors of Green Energy Expo & Romenvirotec in order to make solar technologies more accessible and efficient for them?
The Hi-MO X10 will perform very well in Romania, where efficiency, durability, and performance in high temperatures are critical. In Romania, where abundant sunlight and high summer temperatures are key factors, the low temperature coefficient of -0.26%/°C ensures minimal efficiency losses, delivering consistent and reliable energy production even during peak heat. The shading optimizer technology further enhances performance by reducing power losses by over 70% in partially shaded conditions, making it perfect for urban rooftop installations.
The Hi-MO X10 offers an output that can be between 3% and 9% above a TOPCon of the same size, which means that the payback time is considerably shortened. Considering the module’s 30-year power warranty and the significantly reduced BOS costs of the PV plant, this product offers a clear added value for the end customer.
How do you see the evolution of the PV market in Romania and the region in the medium and long term and what role does your company aims to play in this context?
Romania is one of the markets with the highest growth rate in the region nowadays, we are quite optimistic for the upcoming years. The increasing penetration of PV installations will however add to the pressure on the Romanian TSO, as I said earlier. This will lead to regulatory changes as it happened in other countries (e.g. finishing the yearly net metering in Poland, Hungary and Slovenia as of 01.01.2024) and this will also change the design of PV systems, too, since storage will be a must-have, not a nice to have asset. Clearly for residential, the household electricity price will be the key factor in customers’ investment decisions.
See you soon at Green Energy Expo & Romenvirotec!