Mohamed Saady Dweik
Technical Services & Product Management Director MEA&CA – Jinko Solar
1. Could you share your key highlights from SNEC 2026 and what stood out most for JinkoSolar this year?
SNEC 2026 was a historic milestone for JinkoSolar as we became the first PV enterprise globally to surpass 400 GW in cumulative shipments. Our display focused on shifting the industry from a pure power generation mindset to a “scenario-based symbiosis,” anchored by three major breakthroughs:
- The Tiger Neo 5.0 Debut: We officially ushered N-type TOPCon technology into the 700W+ era. Achieving an ultra-high module efficiency of 25.91% and a power density exceeding , Tiger Neo 5.0 delivers up to a 3% energy yield gain over competitors within the exact same physical footprint.
- Perovskite/TOPCon Tandem Records: We announced our 33rd world record for cell efficiency, reaching a certified peak of 34.82% for our perovskite/TOPCon tandem cells, proving our long-term R&D roadmap beyond standard single-junction limits.
2. Following SNEC 2026, what key message does JinkoSolar want to bring to the MENA region?
Our primary message to the MENA region is “Total Reliability Through Technological Adaptation.” MENA is no longer just a market for standard utility-scale components; it requires specialized technology capable of withstanding extreme environmental penalties like high temperatures, high ultraviolet (UV) exposure, and severe soiling.
3. As storage becomes more closely linked to utility-scale solar, how does Jinko see solar-plus-storage shaping project development in MENA?
Solar-plus-storage is transforming from an optional grid-buffer into a mandatory requirement for grid stability and peak load management in MENA. The region’s aggressive decarbonization targets mean that grids must handle massive baseloads of solar energy. Jinko sees solar-plus-storage redefining project development in two key ways:
- Full-Lifecycle Life Parity: Historically, project developers faced a mismatch between a 25-to-30-year PV module asset life and a 10-to-15-year battery bank life. With our newly introduced SunTera G5 utility storage system, we achieve a round-trip efficiency (RTE) of over 96% and maintain an SOH (State of Health) across 25 years. This creates true “solar-storage lifespan parity,” stabilizing financial models for developers.
- Extreme Thermal Resilience: Our utility storage architecture (including our SunTera G2 and G3/G5 platforms) utilizes highly precise liquid-cooling thermal management that restricts cell-to-cell temperature variations to within 2.5°C. This allows stable, safe operations at ambient temperatures up to 55°C—essential for the harsh desert climates of Saudi Arabia, the UAE, and Oman.
4. What trends are you seeing from regional developers and EPCs when it comes to module efficiency, reliability, and bankability?
Regional developers and EPCs in the MENA region are among the most sophisticated in the world, consistently pushing the boundaries of Levelized Cost of Electricity (LCOE). We are seeing three prominent trends:
- The Demand for Improved Low Light Performance & High Bifaciality: EPCs are looking closely at early-morning and late-afternoon yield generation. Our latest TOPCon generations have set a regional benchmark due to their superior low-light performance activation and high bifaciality factors (85-90%), maximizing generation over highly reflective desert sands.
- Stringent Risk Mitigation Post-Weather Events: Reliability expectations have evolved. Following major regional weather anomalies (such as extreme hailstorms and severe flooding across the GCC), developers now demand rigorous sequential testing proof—such as the Hail Stress Sequence (HSS) where modules must survive mechanical load stress directly following physical hail impacts without microcrack propagation.
- Uncompromising Bankability: Because MENA boasts some of the lowest tariff structures globally, projects are heavily leveraged. Financial institutions require tier-1 technology partners with rock-solid balance sheets and recognized global field data. Jinko’s consecutive recognition as a RETC “Overall Highest Achiever” and top marks from PVEL ensure that our technology remains unconditionally bankable for regional mega-projects.
5. Looking ahead, what are JinkoSolar’s expectations for the MENA solar market, and how do you see your role in supporting its next phase of growth?
We expect the MENA market to experience an exponential phase of high-quality growth, shifting from isolated gigawatt-scale projects to deeply integrated multi-gigawatt clean energy hubs that combine PV, hydrogen production, green computing data centers (AIDC), and large-scale grid storage.