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REC Group launches its highest power residential panel ever: REC Alpha Pure-RX


Munich, Germany, September 13, 2023 REC Group, an international pioneering solar energy company, launched yesterday its latest high-efficiency solar panel innovation at RE+ 2023 in Las Vegas, NV, U.S. Reaching 470 Wp, the REC Alpha Pure-RX is the brand’s highest power residential panel ever. With this newest pioneering product, based on advanced heterojunction cell technology (HJT), REC continues to enable customers to maximize the output of rooftop installations. Production of this newest solar panel is set to start in January 2024 at REC’s Industry 4.0 fab in Singapore.

With an increased power density of 226 W/m² or 21 W/ft2, the REC Alpha Pure-RX is REC’s fourth product innovation based on its Alpha HJT technology and exemplifies REC’s mastery of HJT, first launched in 2019. As with REC’s previous innovation, the REC Alpha Pure-R, the Pure-RX panel is based on large G12 HJT cells in a gapless half-cut cell design for improved aesthetics and increased power of 40 Wp as well as lead-free and RoHS compliant for higher sustainability.

Mastering HJT

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Description automatically generated with medium confidence  A solar panel on a roof

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“While many solar panel manufacturers have moved to TOPCon as a quick and simple successor to PERC technology to offer some incremental efficiency gains, REC stays committed to HJT as the real pioneering technology, presenting the biggest potential for efficiency leaps in the near future. We at REC believe that HJT is also the best option for future developments like tandem structures. While most manufacturers will likely follow that route at some point, REC has already a strong track record of manufacturing HJT solar panels,” says Jan Enno Bicker, CEO at REC Group during the official launch ceremony.

As the solar industry races towards larger wafers for higher efficiencies, it faces challenges to switch to G12 large wafers and cells on HJT. A crucial enabler to overcome this challenge in REC’s Alpha Pure-R and Pure-RX HJT panels is AMI – Advanced Module Interconnection. This innovative solder-free foil and wire combination is enabling REC to further master the advanced HJT technology and to achieve higher throughputs.

Protecting customers and the environment

While most of today’s TOPCon solar panels come with a degradation of 0.4% per year and 89% power at year 25, REC’s Alpha HJT products, including the new REC Alpha Pure-RX, guarantee at least 92% power output after 25 years, giving consumers and installers greater peace of mind. At the same time, manufacturing such solar panels for the long-term allows REC to reduce resource consumption and waste disposal for a greater protection of the environment.

 

In line with REC’s mission to combine high-efficiency innovations with sustainable manufacturing practices, REC has eliminated lead also from the new REC Alpha Pure-RX, making the panel RoHS compliant and ultimately contributing to a better environmental protection. “From a pure manufacturing and cost perspective, lead in soldering is making the production easier,” explains Shankar G. Sridhara, Chief Technology Officer at REC Group. “However, getting rid of lead in solar panels, simplifies the recycling of solar panels at their end of life and is worth to go the extra mile.”