JA Solar, ECN to introduce high efficiency PV modules

MUNICH, GERMANY: JA Solar Holdings Co. Ltd, a leading manufacturer of high-performance solar power products, announced at Intersolar Europe that it has partnered with the Energy research Centre of the Netherlands (ECN) to introduce the metal wrap through (MWT) solar cell and module technology into production.

Through this partnership, JA Solar and ECN will work together to produce cost-effective, high-efficiency solar modules that have the promise to reduce the cost of electricity, generated through solar energy.

The MWT technology minimizes shading loss at the front cell surface, resulting in an increased active front surface area of the solar cell. Modules can be assembled in a fully automated process with Eurotron equipment. This technology allows handling of thin solar cells at high throughput and yield.

ECN has recently successfully manufactured high-efficiency MWT solar modules, achieving a world record efficiency in 2009 of 17.0 percent (aperture area) for photovoltaic modules with multi-crystalline silicon cells.

"We are very pleased to be working with ECN to develop the next generation MWT solar cell technology for high efficiency solar modules," said Yong Liu, senior VP of Manufacturing and CTO of JA Solar. "The MWT technology can effectively increase photovoltaic module conversion efficiency with the benefit of higher power output and it allows further reduction of material costs, lowering the cost of solar electricity," he said.

"A crucial element in ECN's mission is to bring technology to application," said Ton Hoff, managing director of ECN. "We are therefore very happy that ECN's technology is going to be industrialized in cooperation with a leading innovative partner like JA Solar."

"We are excited that the largest cell manufacturer intends to produce MWT cells," said Bram Verschoor, commercial director of Eurotron. "This opens up an enormous market potential for our MWT module manufacturing equipment. We are very pleased with ECN's support to bring our technology to the market," he said.