Fraunhofer ISE touts the future of frameless solar module production

Facebook
Twitter
LinkedIn
Reddit
Email
With the ‘TPedge’ assembly approach, solar cells are fixed in a gas-filled space between the two glass panes with special adhesive pins, eliminating encapsulants and backsheets as well as the aluminium frame and sealing. Image Fraunhofer ISE

The development program initially sparked from a Fraunhofer ISE patent has been honed to industrial-scale production opportunities both in durability and cost advantage of conventional PV modules using top side glass, encapsulants and backsheets. 

With the ‘TPedge’ assembly approach, solar cells are fixed in a gas-filled space between the two glass panes with special adhesive pins, eliminating encapsulants and backsheets as well as the aluminium frame and sealing. 

This article requires Premium SubscriptionBasic (FREE) Subscription

Try Premium for just $1

  • Full premium access for the first month at only $1
  • Converts to an annual rate after 30 days unless cancelled
  • Cancel anytime during the trial period

Premium Benefits

  • Expert industry analysis and interviews
  • Digital access to PV Tech Power journal
  • Exclusive event discounts

Or get the full Premium subscription right away

Or continue reading this article for free

Fraunhofer ISE said it had developed a special cost of ownership (COO) model on SEMI industry standards to accurately cost the TPedge assembly approach as well as a cell-to-module power analysis (CTM), and measurements from the CalLab PV Modules.

“The results show that the specific module costs of the TPedge concept are approximately 2 percent less than the conventional glass-foil-laminate concept,” noted long-standing project head at Fraunhofer ISE, Max Mittag. “The cost reduction is mostly due to lower material costs. Material costs are crucial since they are responsible for ca. 90 percent of the total module production costs, including cells.” 

Fraunhofer ISE also noted that the TPedge concept also lowers material costs compared to the glass-glass-laminate concept.

Previous production cost reduction claims for the technology also highlighted faster throughput cycle times that aimed at 45 seconds per module. Complete module assembly would have been less than a minute, compared to a standard module assembly cycle time of 16 minutes. 

The module prototypes jointly produced with Bystronic glass underwent many typical tests based on the standards IEC 61730 and 61215 at the PV Module-TEC (Module Technology Center) at Fraunhofer ISE, which verified the durability of the modules by exposing them to 400 temperature cycles (-40 °C … + 85 °C) in the testing process. Durability tests for mechanical loads (see above image) and hail were also carried out successfully, according to Fraunhofer ISE.

The culmination of the program has been the ability to transfer the once lab prototype to an industrial-scale module using the standard 60-cell configuration. 

Read Next

October 9, 2025
Singapore-based Sembcorp Industries has agreed to acquire ReNew’s 300MW solar power unit in India for around US$246 million.
October 9, 2025
The retroactive collection of duties on historical solar imports to the US has been temporarily paused pending the outcome of an appeal.
October 8, 2025
US solar module prices jumped in Q3 2025 as developers scrambled to meet the 2 September 2025 safe harbour deadline for Investment Tax Credit (ITC) qualification, according to supply chain platform Anza.
October 8, 2025
University of Sydney scientists have created the largest and most efficient triple-junction perovskite-perovskite-silicon solar cell on record.
October 8, 2025
Saatvik Green Energy has secured new solar PV module orders worth more than INR7 billion (US$84 million), to be delivered in this financial year.
October 7, 2025
Econergy will acquire 100% stake in the 155MW Ratesti solar project in Romania, further expanding its European renewable energy portfolio.

Subscribe to Newsletter

Upcoming Events

Solar Media Events
October 21, 2025
New York, USA
Solar Media Events
November 25, 2025
Warsaw, Poland
Solar Media Events
December 2, 2025
Málaga, Spain
Solar Media Events
February 3, 2026
London, UK