Meyer Burger’s revolutionary SmartWire Connection Technology significantly lowers photovoltaic production costs and boosts PV system energy yield by 10%
SmartWire Connection Technology (SWCT) offers customers the following advantages:
– Power: 5% higher power output compared to best-in-class 3BB technology
– Energy yield: 10% higher energy yield (kWh/kWp)
– TCO: reduction of up to 0.25 USD/cell
– Available for existing and future crystalline silicon cell types
Meyer Burger’s (SIX Swiss Exchange: MBTN) patented SmartWire Connection Technology (SWCT) for solar cells achieves higher efficiency solar modules and reduces production costs in PV manufacturing. Solar cells are electrically connected using thin copper wires on both sides of the cell thereby replacing the classic 2 to 3 busbars. Typically, 30 very fine copper wires are used for cell connection generating up to 2,000 contact points per cell.
5% higher module power and 10% more energy yield (kWh/kWp)
SWCT’s fine copper wires reduce shading on the solar cell by 3% in comparison to cells with 3 busbars. Coupled with its 2% lower series resistance, SWCT technology increases the power output of a solar module by 5%. The round copper wires used in SmartWire technology increase the amount of sunlight reflected onto the cells resulting in SWCT contacted modules beginning to produce electricity earlier in the day and stop producing electricity later in the day. This leads to an increased energy yield of about 10% (kWh/kWp) compared to busbar technology. SWCT increases cell stability and reduces the impact of possible micro-cracks on the power of the solar module. Micro-cracks are the most common cause of energy loss in solar modules
Reduction of production costs up to -0.25 USD/cell
The proven SWCT technology significantly reduces the cost of production by eliminating the busbars on both sides of the cell and optimising finger widths thus reducing silver quantity by up to 80%. Based on the current price of 30 USD/troy ounce for silver, this reduction in silver results in up to 0,25 USD/cell lower material costs.
Universal cell compatibility
SWCT is compatible to all crystalline silicon cell technologies: selective emitter, PERC and Heterojunction (HJT) in both p- and n-type silicon cells. Wafer thickness can be as low as 100 µm and thinnest finger widths can be used in SWCT technology. This very future oriented technology can also be applied to the next generation of finger metallisation technologies.
SmartWire Connection Technology and Heterojunction cells – high performance combination
Heterojunction (HJT) cells are very sensitive to high temperatures above 180°C that are typical of traditional busbar soldering. The innovative SWCT copper wire process takes place at lower temperature which not only enables contact to be made with high performance HJT cells, the lower temperatures further reduces energy costs during module production. Modules combining HJT cell technology with the SmartWire Connection Technology have achieved active area efficiencies of over 20%. The SWCT process is self-aligning and omits complicated ribbon lay-out on the contact surface of the cell.
The SmartWire Connection technology rounds out Meyer Burger’s product portfolio and combines the advantages of leading PV technologies to increase the overall performance of cells and modules and to achieve a sustainable reduction in the cost of solar energy. The SGS Fresenius Institute has already certified Heterojunction (HJT) modules with the innovative SmartWire Connection technology and Meyer Burger’s laboratories have successfully performed 4-fold IEC-compliant damp heat and 8-fold temperature cycles.
For further information, please contact:
Meyer Burger Technology AG
Ingrid Carstensen
Tel: +41 33 221 28 34
Email: ingrid.carstensen@meyerburger.com
About Meyer Burger Technology Ltd
www.meyerburger.com
Meyer Burger is a leading global technology Group. Our innovative systems and production equipment create sustainable value for our customers in photovoltaics (solar industry), in the semiconductor and optoelectronic industries as well as other selected industries which focus on semiconductor materials. The Group currently employs about 2,270 people across three continents. In our core business – photovoltaics – integrated systems and solutions which increase manufacturing performance and efficiency are the cornerstones of our corporate strategy. The Meyer Burger Group’s industry expertise and leading photovoltaic technologies along the entire value chain encompass all important production processes, systems and equipment for solar production from wafers to building integrated solar systems.
The Group’s core competencies cover a broad range of production processes, machines and systems that are used for the production of ultra-thin, high quality wafers, for coating and optimizing as well as inspection and measurement of high performance solar cells, for laminating, soldering and testing of solar modules and for building-integrated solar systems.
A worldwide service network including spare parts, consumables, re-grooving services, process know-how, customer support, after-sales services, training and other services completes the Group’s comprehensive product portfolio. Meyer Burger Group is represented in Europe, Asia and North America in the respective key markets and has subsidiaries and own service centres in China, Germany, India, Japan, Korea, the Netherlands, Switzerland, Singapore, Taiwan and the USA. The company relies on selected independent agents in other important markets. The registered shares of Meyer Burger Technology Ltd are listed on the SIX Swiss Exchange (Ticker: MBTN).
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