What are half-cut solar panels?

 

Solar cell technology trends are rapidly becoming mainstream. Best Solar Panel Company in Pakistan IHS Markit predicted that Passivated Emitter Rear Cell (PERC) technology will go from small-scale production in 2014 to mass production by 2020 - the prediction is confirmed by looking at the panel models released this year. Half-cut panels also use PERC technology.

Half-cell technology on the way

The ninth edition of the ITRPV (International Technology Roadmap for Photovoltaic) predicts that the market share of half cells will grow from 5% in 2018 to nearly 40% in 2028.

Half cell modules have solar cells that are cut in half to improve the efficiency and durability of the module. Traditional panels with 60 and 72 cells will have 120 and 144 cells respectively. When solar cells are halved, their current is also halved, so resistive losses are reduced and the cells can produce slightly more power. Smaller cells experience less stress, so cracking is less likely. Half-cell modules have higher output characteristics and are more reliable than traditional panels.“When it comes to solar panels, the idea of ​​'more' comes to mind - producing more energy, saving (or making) more money and doing more good for the environment,” said Jemil Seber, vice president of global marketing and product management at REC ... "In the case of roofs where available space is limited, solar panels with half-cut technology are beneficial ."

The history of the creation of high-efficiency half-cut solar panels

REC is a pioneer in the production of half cells, first introducing this design in 2014. In the TwinPeak half-cell series of modules, each panel is effectively converted into two twin panels. Since the cells are smaller, the spacing between cells does not have to be that wide, and they can be placed closer to each other. This allowed REC to split the panel in two. Independent top and bottom halves of the module reduce the negative impact on shading. Solar Panel in Pakistan If the bottom half of the module is shaded, the top half will still work, and vice versa.REC has pushed the boundaries of production with half-cut polycrystalline modules. The half-cell PERC polycrystalline REC modules reached 300 watts, and could compete with solid-cell modules in the more efficient monocrystalline class. The company was so impressed with the benefits of half-pieces that it converted all of its production lines to the new technology .

“Since 2014, REC has been continuously converting its production lines to half-cell technology,” said the company's vice president. “Today, all but one of our production lines in Singapore are cut cells.”During the 2018 exhibition, REC unveiled a new series of N-Peak modules, the first series of modules developed by the company in monocrystalline half cells. The achievement is high efficiency, and the output power is 330W with a traditional size of 60 cells with PERC technology.

ther manufacturers have also started developing half-cells in the monocrystalline grade. Hanwha Q CELLS received the 2018 Intersolar Award in the Photovoltaics category for its Q.PEAK DUO-G5 solar module, a 120 cell monocrystalline module with six busbars. The Hanwha module uses rounded busbars instead of flat busbars to reduce shading of the cells. LONGi Solar recently demonstrated 370W of its 120-cell PERC and 450W 144-cell monocrystalline panels .

Since half-cell designs are the hottest trend right now, a manufacturer just needs to update a few things in their lines to keep up. Two challenges in the transition from whole cell manufacturing to half cell designs are cell cutting and the joining process. Since the halves are usually PERC initially, the cell itself is quite fragile. Laser cutting the cell in the middle without cracking is a delicate process. Half-cells often use four or more busbars. It takes precision equipment to pull these very narrow connecting strips into a smaller area. The junction boxes are also different, most brands use two smaller junction boxes, so each half of the module can work as a separate one.

What is the main advantage of half-cut solar panels?

Since half-cut modules produce more energy, they are more efficient and reliable than their solid-cell counterparts, and they save installation time and money. Providing more power per square meter, to produce the same power requires fewer panels for solar power . Solar Energy in Pakistan This means faster installation and the need for fewer components such as clamps, mounting profiles and metal structures - all of which lower overall costs.