TECHNOLOGYNEWS Q Cells get top marks
Q-CELLS SE, a provider of PV solutions, has received positive feedback on harsh testing of its products. On the test field in Alice Springs, run by the renowned Australian ‘Desert Knowledge Australia Solar Centre” (DKASC) the Q-Cells solar module
Q.SMART (CIGS thin-film technology) and a prototype of the Q- Cells solar modules
Q.PRO and
Q.BASE (polysilicon technology) achieved peak performances under extreme climate conditions.
DKASC is an independent test centre for solar energy systems financed by the Australian government. Due to the dry desert climate, the test conditions in the test centre located in Central Australia are among the most demanding worldwide. On the test field in Alice Springs test, the performances of more than a dozen leading European, Asian and American manufacturers are tested under identical conditions. Q-Cells is the only German company represented with its modules in the Australian desert.
During the period from August 2010 to January 2011, the power output of the
Q.SMART (CIGS thin film technology) solar module was measured at a test field in Alice Springs, along with several similarly sized thin-film systems.
With an average energy yield of 5.8 kilowatt-hours per installed kilowatt-peak per day (KWh/KWp/day), the module emerged as one of the leading performers from the mentioned test period.
The average output of systems from leading international manufacturers with a similar system configuration ranged between 5.1 and 5.3 KWh/KWp/day.
‘We are pleased that our
Q.SMART modules further on belong to the most high-performance solar modules in an international comparison”, says Lars Stolt, Chief Technology Officer at Solibro, a subsidiary of Q-Cells SE for the CIGS technology.
In a test of crystalline solar modules, a prototype of the multi-crystalline Q-Cells solar modules
Q.PRO and
Q.BASE also performed extremely well. During the period from March 2010 to January 2011,
Largest CIS solar module plant
SOLAR FRONTIER has announced that it has started commercial production on schedule at its gigawatt- scale Kunitomi factory, the world’s largest CIS thin-film solar module production plant, located in Miyazaki, Japan. Launched only 16 months after breaking ground in September, 2009, the new factory will approach full capacity this summer.
the QC-05 prototype module achieved an average energy yield of 5.3 kilowatt-hours per installed kilowatt-peak per day.
In the specified test period, the average output of systems with a similar system configuration ranged from 4.6 to 5.1 KWh/KWp/day. On the basis of the QC-05 module, Q-Cells will launch a new generation of
Q.PRO and
Q.BASE modules with a higher performance in all key markets of Q-Cells SE in 2011.
With the convincing test results, Q-Cells is once again setting the benchmark with respect to technological leadership. ‘We are pleased that the high level of quality at Q-Cells is also reflected in independent tests,’ says Peter Wawer, Senior Vice President Technology at Q-Cells. ‘The test results show that our products hold a technologically leading position. We assume that the Q-Cells solar modules will also achieve positive test results in the long term.’
From a strategic point of view, these excellent test results also prove that Q- Cells is focusing on the right technologies. In addition to the silicon- based modules, the CIGS thin-film technology plays an important role. With its cost-effective production and high levels of efficiency, the CIGS process is very convincing.
The modules are characterised by excellent performance under various geographic conditions and, thanks to their appealing aesthetics, are ideally suited for architecturally demanding applications. As early as in June 2010, Q-Cells had produced its first
Q.SMART module (CIGS thin-film technology), which achieved a world-record-breaking efficiency factor of 13%.
“The Kunitomi plant’s manufacturing processes involve some of the most advanced production automation in the industry, as we aim to ensure the highest quality and reliability,” said Hiroshi Yoshida, Vice President, Manufacturing at Solar Frontier. “The panels manufactured at the Kunitomi plant will have higher output and be larger than ever before, too, saving significantly on the BOS costs of installed systems.”
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Products manufactured at the Kunitomi plant have now obtained certifications on performance and safety issued by Japanese and European standards organizations, and U.S. certifications are expected soon, as the factory begins shipping worldwide.
Shigeaki Kameda, CEO of Solar Frontier commented that, “The scale of our automation will provide unprecedented manufacturing efficiency. With the plant running at full capacity, we will become very competitive worldwide. Based in Germany, the United States and Japan, Solar Frontier’s expanding sales network and significant partnerships with global players will enable us to deliver economical and ecological next-generation CIS solar energy solutions to customers everywhere.”
www.solar-pv-management.com Issue II 2011
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