Reborn in 2012, building a new energy empire

Chapter 152: Costs reduced by 60%

The heatwave at the venue peaked in the afternoon, and the air was thick with the anxious atmosphere of the crowds.

The crowd in front of the Kirin Technology booth did not thin out during lunchtime; on the contrary, it became even denser. What truly attracted professional visitors was not the booth design or the lingering warmth of a leadership visit, but rather the LED screen that continuously displayed comparative data and the two silently cut prototypes in the center of the booth.

There were no dazzling animations on the screen, only a few lines of constantly refreshing comparison tables—simple, cold, like a surgical report.

The data column clearly lists key indicators: wire diameter fluctuation, breaking force, total thickness variation of cut silicon wafers, and line consumption per kilometer — in the last line, under the "Estimated cost reduction" item, the bolded numbers are alarming:

60%–70%.

This data was like a needle, piercing the eyes of every expert who passed by.

A middle-aged man wearing an employee badge from a leading silicon wafer manufacturer stood in front of the screen for nearly twenty minutes.

He first scanned the data word by word, then almost pressed his face against the protective cover of the prototype, staring at the trajectory of the silver lines inside and observing the subtle turbulence as the coolant flowed through.

Finally, he straightened up, extended his index finger, and precisely pointed to the several pieces that had already been cut on the sample rack next to him.

Under the spotlight, the silicon wafers gleamed with a deep blue sheen. The voice was low and crisp: "Can I handle these and take a look?"

Wang Qiming quickly put on brand-new white gloves, his movements as gentle as if he were handling an artifact, and took out a silicon wafer from the temperature- and humidity-controlled sample cabinet, placing it under the high-powered digital microscope next to him.

With a soft "click," the image was instantly projected onto the 45-inch monitor on the side.

The surface of the silicon wafer, magnified hundreds of times, is clearly visible, like contour lines on a satellite map.

The cutting lines are so fine that they look as if they were measured with a ruler, the damage layer is so thin that it is almost non-existent, and the edge chipping is strictly controlled at the micrometer level.

The engineer leaned down, held his breath, and stared intently for a long time, his eyes behind his glasses unblinking.

He then gestured for a comparison.

Wang Qiming understood and placed the comparison sample (a "target" specially prepared by Kirin Technology) cut from imported mainstream B-brand wire under the microscope.

Under the same magnification and lighting conditions, the imported thread continues to perform steadily and excellently, with a slightly smoother cut surface – a testament to years of accumulated expertise.

However, the difference is so thin that it is difficult to detect without repeated comparisons; in some parts, the patterns cut out by Qilin-1 appear neater and more stable under a microscope, with a hint of the sharpness of a newborn calf.

"Where did you get the TTV (Total Thickness Change) data?" The engineer finally straightened up, turning his gaze from the screen to Wang Qiming. His question was brief, but it carried the sharpness unique to technologists, who didn't overlook any details.

"After every five pieces are cut, the online thickness gauge integrated into the production line automatically and randomly selects one piece for inspection. The data is uploaded in real time and recorded automatically, without any human intervention or modification afterward."

Wang Qiming spoke at a steady pace, bringing up the data recording interface on his tablet. With a light swipe of his finger, streams of data, each with timestamps, location coordinates, thickness values, and fluctuation ranges, cascaded down like a waterfall, eventually converging into a smooth, almost straight curve.

"This is a complete dataset from a week of continuous small-batch trial production. All anomalies are marked and logged from startup to shutdown. You can browse through it at will and check any time period."

The engineer took the tablet, his fingers swiping rapidly, his gaze growing increasingly somber.

Several more people unknowingly gathered behind him; they were all experts, their whispers filled with professional jargon and subconscious skepticism.

"Line consumption 1.42 — Confirm?" another voice chimed in, pointing at the screen. "The imported B brand we use in our factory often reaches over 1.5 in actual operation."

Gu Qiushi took over the conversation, his tone calm: "The testing conditions were a standard 156mm silicon ingot, with a cutting speed of 1.2..."

Millimeters per minute, cooling parameters are constant. The report contains all operating conditions.

"Actual line consumption is certainly affected by silicon material and process, but according to our preliminary feedback from customer internal tests, under similar parameters, it can indeed be 5 to 8 percentage points lower than the imported B brand they currently use."

"Customers?" The questioner's ears were extremely sharp. "Are there already customers trying it?"

Jiang Haoran, who had been observing the situation calmly, walked over and said in a composed tone, "Several partners who recognize our technical approach are conducting small-batch internal testing and evaluation."

"The specific name is subject to a confidentiality agreement and cannot be disclosed, but the current feedback—" He paused, then gave a solid conclusion, "is positive."

This is not an exaggeration. The companies behind Engineers Zhang and Li have indeed started the testing process, but it is still small in scale.

"What about the cost?" The engineer who had initially put down his tablet asked the most crucial and weighty question, "How is a 60% to 70% reduction calculated? What does it cover?"

Jiang Haoran turned his head slightly, and Zhao Haichuan immediately handed him a cost analysis summary. Key supplier and formula details had been omitted, but the overall framework was clear and robust.

Material costs (special steel wire matrix, diamond micro powder, chemical additives) account for approximately 45%, manufacturing costs (equipment, energy consumption, labor) account for 30%, and management, R&D and other costs account for 25%.

Next to the material cost item, there is a prominent note: "The localization rate of key materials has reached more than 80%, and the cost is reduced by 55%+ compared with imports."

"Domestic micron powder?" The engineer's fingertip touched that line of annotation, his gaze like a probe.

"Yes." Jiang Haoran met his gaze without flinching. "We collaborated with two top domestic micro-nano materials companies to develop this product. Its performance indicators have reached over 92% of imported counterparts, while the price is only 60% of the imported ones."

Similar performance, but at half the cost.

These eight words, in the fiercely competitive cost-driven photovoltaic industry, were like a thunderclap. The surrounding murmurs noticeably intensified and became more agitated.

The doubts will certainly not disappear.

"Can small batches of data support the stability of mass production?"

"How many cycles of lifespan testing have been completed?"

"Can the supply chain withstand the pressure?"

The questions came like a barrage of bullets.

Jiang Haoran, Gu Qiushi, Wang Qiming, and Zhao Haichuan formed a well-coordinated tactical team, each intercepting questions from different angles.

They do not shy away from difficulties, frankly admitting that scaling up mass production is indeed challenging, lifespan needs time to mature, and the supply chain is still being refined.

But every answer is firmly grounded in existing data, completed tests, and implemented collaborations. There are no empty promises or inflated visions.

This almost clumsy pragmatism, on the contrary, acted as a ballast, gradually calming the doubts in the eyes of many onlookers.

The crowds at the Qilin booth never truly dispersed throughout the afternoon.

The folders filled with business cards grew thicker and thicker, and the consultation records filled page after page. Zhao Haichuan's voice was already hoarse, so Wang Qiming and Gu Qiushi had to take turns sneaking backstage to get some water and catch their breath.

Jiang Haoran, aside from the occasional concise addition, mostly stood quietly on the flank, observing and listening, like a stake anchored against the wind and waves.

But he could clearly sense that something unseen was quietly changing.

Initially, the crowd's gaze was filled with curiosity and skepticism, with the preconceived notion that "just another advocate has arrived." But now, many people's expressions as they leave have shifted to reflection, note-taking, and even a cautious "perhaps it's really worth following up on."

Reputation, like ink dropped into still water, is slowly spreading in small but definite patterns.

As the sky outside the window gradually darkened, the exhibition hall remained brightly lit, casting long, thin shadows.

The hustle and bustle of the first day has slowly receded like the tide, but for Kirin Technology, the real battle may have only just begun.

Jiang Haoran looked towards the center of the booth. The two prototypes were still running tirelessly, and the cutting sound was particularly clear and firm in the gradually emptying exhibition hall, one beat after another, like a heartbeat.

What will tomorrow bring?

he does not know.

But he knew that the first real piece had already been placed in the game.