Q CELLS hits new Q.ANTUM cell milestone, announces launch date of new bifacial module

More than 15 GW of Q.ANTUM cell capacity has now been produced by Q CELLS. The next step on the Company’s technology roadmap is the new Q.PEAK DUO L-G5.3/BF range, which represents Q CELLS’ first bifacial, glass-glass solar module. Mass production will begin in Q3 this year.

Thalheim, Germany: Hanwha Q CELLS Co., Ltd. and its affiliate Hanwha Q CELLS & Advanced Materials Corp. (collectively, “Q CELLS” or “The Company”), one of the largest solar cell and module manufacturers in the world, has announced today that it will begin mass production of its new bifacial solar module – the Q.PEAK DUO L-G5.3/BF – in the third quarter (Q3) of this year.

The first shipments of the Q.PEAK DUO L-G5.3/BF solar module are planned to be delivered to an as-yet undisclosed large ground-mounted solar project in October, with a global commercial rollout of the bifacial modules scheduled for the beginning of 2020.

This announcement follows a key milestone in the market development of Q CELLS’ technology roadmap. This month, the Company surpassed 15 GW of Q.ANTUM cell and module production volume with the production of the three billionth Q.ANTUM cell. Q CELLS first commercialized the proprietary Q.ANTUM cell technology – a PERC-based module produced using a unique, patent-protected passivation technology – in 2012, and has since enjoyed global success with a range of boundary-breaking Q.ANTUM modules.

The next step on the Q.ANTUM roadmap is integrating bifacial technology into high-efficiency Q.PEAK DUO modules, which will be ushered into the market by Q CELLS later this year.

Launch of bifacial modules reflects Q CELLS’ commitment to technological progress

Balancing the inherent energy yield gain offered by bifacial technology with issues regarding cost and durability has been a prime concern for module manufacturers over the past few years. Simply developing bifacial versions of today’s advanced solar cells is only one part of the equation, while market acceptance of the overall benefits of bifacial technology has been allowed to grow organically in the past 24 months.

While Q CELLS has been equipped with the technology on the R&D level for quite some time, the process of delivering a bifacial solar module to the market has been one of the Company’s careful considerations. The company’s CTO Daniel Jeong said: “Whenever Q CELLS decides to introduce a new product to the market, we want to be sure that, one: the markets demand this type of technology and, two: the product meets the Q CELLS standard of performance and quality, thus actively building upon our brand’s reputation for market-leading quality and innovation to further push the envelope of solar technology.” As a bifacial, monocrystalline half-cut cells manufactured utilizing Q CELLS’ proprietary Q.ANTUM Technology, the new Q.PEAK DUO L-G5.3/BF module does just that, delivering a very high module efficiency of close to 20%, and a bifacial energy yield gain of up to 20%.

The Q.PEAK DUO L-G5.3/BF is also a double glass (glass-glass) module manufactured with a white grid on the rear-glass for optimal energy harvest, due to a very high front-side power of close to 400 watts. Because of this high front-side power, a bifaciality factor of 70% means a rear-side power of up to 280 W, making the Q.PEAK DUO L-G5.3/BF an attractive proposition for developers seeking high energy yield. This power boost is augmented by the use of a special junction box that has been designed to reduce rear-side shading, and a 35 mm high-tech aluminum alloy frame that not only helps to protect the glass edges and corners from damage, but also makes the module compatible with a wide range of mounting structures.

The glass-glass composition further ensures that the cells are securely protected, helping to lower the likelihood of cell breakage that can occur when cells bend under mechanical loads. Each glass pane is just 2.0 mm thick, thus ensuring that the module is lightweight, making it easier to install, ship and store. Furthermore, the Q.ANTUM Technology contained within is Q CELLS’ proprietary cell technology, which is based on the Company’s unique, patented passivation technology. All Q.ANTUM cells and modules come with Q CELLS Yield Security, comprising Anti LID, Anti LeTID and Anti PID performance, as well as Hot Spot Protect and the Tra.Q laser marking for traceable quality. Additional features include a six busbar design and round wire interconnection technology, known from the well-established Q.PEAK DUO-G5 series.

Daniel Jeong added: “The bright future that bifacial solar modules have for so long promised has now advanced upon the industry, and so I am delighted to announce that Q CELLS is poised to release its bifacial, glass-glass solar module to the market. The Q.PEAK DUO L-G5.3/BF module combines Q CELLS’ renowned high quality and performance standards with a bifacial energy yield gain of up to 20%.

“We believe that a glass-glass module offers the most reliable design choice for bifacial technology, evidenced by the fact that Q CELLS offers an improved 30-year performance warranty for the Q.PEAK DUO L-G5.3/BF module, with a maximum annual performance degradation of 0.5%.”

Visit the Q CELLS booth (No. A1.270 and A1.180) at Intersolar Europe to find out more.

About Hanwha Q CELLS
Hanwha Q CELLS Co., Ltd. and Hanwha Q CELLS & Advanced Materials Corporation (Collectively, “Hanwha Q CELLS”) is one of the world´s largest and most recognized photovoltaic manufacturers for its high-performance, high-quality solar cells and modules. It is headquartered in Seoul, South Korea (Global Executive HQ) and Thalheim, Germany (Technology & Innovation HQ) with its diverse international manufacturing facilities in the U.S, Malaysia, China, and South Korea. Hanwha Q CELLS offers the full spectrum of photovoltaic products, applications and solutions, from cells and modules to kits to systems to large-scale solar power plants. Through its growing global business network spanning Europe, North America, Asia, South America, Africa and the Middle East, Hanwha Q CELLS provides excellent services and long-term partnerships to its customers in the utility, commercial, governmental and residential markets. Hanwha Q CELLS is a flagship company of Hanwha Group, a FORTUNE Global 500 firm and a Top 10 business enterprise in South Korea. For more information, visit: http://www.q-cells.com.

Safe-Harbor Statement
This press release contains forward-looking statements. These forward-looking statements can be identified by terminology such as “will,” “expects,” “anticipates,” “future,” “intends,” “plans,” “believes,” “estimates” and similar statements. Among other things, the quotations from management in this press release and the Hanwha Q CELLS’ operations and business outlook, contain forward-looking statements. Such statements involve certain risks and uncertainties that could cause actual results to differ materially from those expressed in or suggested by the forward-looking statements. Except as required by law, Hanwha Q CELLS does not undertake any obligation to update or revise any forward-looking statements, whether as a result of new information, future events or otherwise.

Source: q-cells