High temperature performance produces greater energy yield
Munich, August 27, 2013 – The solar modules produced by Scandinavian-German manufacturer Innotech Solar AS (ITS) are particularly suitable for warm regions, as they demonstrate an outstanding temperature coefficient, meaning that they retain their excellent level of performance even in high ambient temperatures. A typical application where this performance can bring significant benefits is in commercial greenhouses. By constructing the roof with solar modules instead of glass green power can be generated as well as improving the light and temperature conditions for plants, without the need for additional shading systems.
“While many modules show a significant deterioration in performance in warmer regions, such as southern Europe, ITS modules are able to generate impressive energy yields even in these conditions,” reports Dr. Thomas Hillig, Vice President Module Sales & Marketing at Innotech Solar. With a temperature coefficient of minus 0.38 percent per Kelvin, ITS modules rank among the best photovoltaic modules for use in warm climates. “As an example, thanks to the excellent temperature coefficient, a solar system in Sicily with an output of 500 kWp fitted with 240Wp EcoPlus modules generates around 14 MWh more electricity a year than a system installed with modules having only an average temperature coefficient. In even warmer regions, this additional yield increases accordingly.”
In one such installation Innotech Solar has supplied the modules for a large-scale solar system mounted on greenhouses near Granada, Spain. The south-facing roof surface area was fitted with solar modules, leaving the north-facing side of the roof to let in the light required for the plants in the greenhouse. The system was connected to the grid last year and generates around 6 MWh of power annually, which is the equivalent power required for around 2,500 homes.
“The power produced can, of course, also be used to operate the technology used in the greenhouse directly, such as the irrigation pumps and ventilation systems that often run during the day,” explains Hillig. “Depending on how high the electricity price is in comparison with the feed-in tariff in the country in which the system is installed, on-site consumption may be beneficial to the system owner.
ITS modules are made using optimized high-performance cells. The environmentally friendly production process reduces their carbon footprint by 74 percent in comparison with modules using conventional cells. Alongside ITS modules’ innovative production process, the use of renewable energy at the company’s manufacturing sites in Sweden and Germany as well as the short transport routes improve the company’s environmental footprint.
About Innotech Solar
The Scandinavian-German company manufactures solar modules in Europe and sells them worldwide. Innotech Solar specializes in the production of particularly environmentally friendly modules with optimized solar cells and uses innovative processes developed by in-house research teams to do so.
The power for the cell optimization facility in Halle an der Saale is provided by renewable energy. The company manufactures its modules in a former REC solar factory in Glava, Sweden, which is also powered by 100% renewable energy. Thanks to its fully automated production lines the Innotech Solar module manufacturing facility is one of Europe’s most modern production plants.
