JinkoSolar has officially launched a lightweight module solution specifically designed for low-load-bearing roofs—the Jinko ‘Light Diamond’, high-strength module, based on its Tiger Neo 3.0 technology platform.
Module weight: 16.2 kg
Module dimensions: 1980 × 1134 × 30 mm
Weight density: 7 kg/m²— a 40% weight reduction compared with conventional double-glass modules (12.2 kg/m²);
Maximum power: 560 W;
Maximum module efficiency: 24.94%
Applications: Suitable for older factory buildings, temporary structures, light-gauge steel roofs, power plant coal sheds and buildings with load restrictions.
Five Key Advantages:
Advantage 1: Ultra-Lightweight with Guaranteed Strength
The module weighs only 7 kg per square metre, representing a weight reduction of over 40% compared to conventional double-glass modules. The total module weight for a 1 MW project is only 28.6 tons, a reduction of approximately 20 tons compared to BC double-glass modules. This means that a large number of roofs that previously required reinforcement or were unsuitable for installation can now be directly fitted with solar panels without any structural modifications.
Advantage 2: 24.94% High Efficiency—Lightweight and High-Performance
A common flaw among most lightweight modules on the market is that they prioritize weight reduction at the expense of power generation efficiency. The ‘Light Diamond’ module breaks this trade-off, delivering a maximum power output of 560 watts and an ultra-high efficiency of 24.94%, whereas flexible modules or BC composite modules only reach 450 to 460 watts—a single-module power increase of over 100 watts. This means a higher-capacity solar power plant can be installed on the same roof area. More importantly, the higher power output directly leads to optimized system costs: fewer modules are required, reducing Balance of System (BOS) costs for mounting structures, cables, combiner boxes and other components; installation time is shortened, lowering labour costs, and overall BOS costs are further reduced by 3% to 5% compared to conventional lightweight solutions.
This is not a lightweight module born of compromise, but a high-efficiency module that takes performance to the next level.
Advantage 3: Reduced Weight Without Compromising Quality—Backed by a 30-Year Power Warranty
The key concern with lightweight modules is whether their reduced weight compromises reliability. The ‘Light Diamond’ module addresses this concern with technology and data.
In terms of structural reinforcement, the module utilizes 1.6mm lightweight glass to reduce weight while maintaining light transmittance; the frame features reinforced channel design with increased thickness, enhancing overall mechanical strength and the encapsulation process uses reinforced adhesive film, significantly improving sealing performance, resistance to humidity and heat and resistance to micro-cracks.
In terms of load certification, the maximum front-side load capacity is 3,600 Pa—equivalent to withstanding 3.6 metres of snow accumulation—and the module can withstand impacts from 25mm hailstones without damage. The maximum back-side load capacity is 2,400 Pa, equivalent to withstanding Category 12 winds. In the face of extreme weather, it provides a robust safety barrier.
In terms of long-term reliability metrics, the temperature coefficient is -0.26%/°C, resulting in lower power generation losses at high temperatures; the power output warranty spans 30 years, which is 12–15 years longer than that of flexible or composite modules; first-year degradation does not exceed 1%, with subsequent annual degradation of 0.35%, both of which outperform industry averages.
Advantage 4: Save Money, Time and Effort
The lightweight design of the ‘Light Diamond’ module not only reduces physical weight, but also systematically optimizes total lifecycle costs.
Compared to conventional module reinforcement solutions, the module saves approximately 0.5 yuan per watt in reinforcement costs, equivalent to savings of some 500,000 yuan per MW. The construction period is reduced from over 40 days to 8–10 days—a 75% reduction. There is no need to halt production, thereby avoiding operational losses, and the approval process is simplified, eliminating the need for structural modification approvals.
Taking a 1 MW project as an example, the savings on reinforcement costs amount to approximately 500,000 yuan, the construction period is shortened by more than 30 days and the production downtime losses avoided—which can reach hundreds of thousands of yuan depending on the company’s scale—significantly boost the project’s internal rate of return (IRR) and markedly shorten the payback period. For retrofit projects involving older factory buildings, the greatest advantage of the module is that installation can proceed without halting production; companies can maintain normal operations while the solar power plant is simultaneously installed on the roof, ensuring both objectives are met.
Advantage 5: Strong Demand, a Blue Ocean Market
According to industry statistics, China has over 6 billion square metres of existing commercial and industrial rooftop space, with load-restricted roofs accounting for more than 30% of this total, representing a potential market of nearly 2 billion square metres. Based on an installation density of 100 watts per square metre and a system cost of 1.5 yuan per watt, the theoretical installation capacity exceeds 200 GW, with a market size surpassing 300 billion yuan.
The renovation of old factory buildings, the upgrading of cultural and creative parks and distributed solar systems on light-gauge steel roofs, scenarios that were previously deemed unsuitable for installation, are now becoming a new blue ocean for PV growth. Whoever can be the first to deliver truly reliable products will be able to capture this market.
Application Scenarios
1) Renovation of Old Industrial Buildings: This is the primary application scenario. Industrial buildings constructed in the last century, as well as power plant coal sheds, carports and simple rural supermarkets, often have limited roof load-bearing capacity and structurally deteriorated roofs that cannot safely support additional weight. The ‘Light Diamond’ module can be installed without structural reinforcement and does not disrupt production during renovation, making it the preferred solution for the green retrofitting of old industrial buildings.
2) Cultural and Creative Parks and Commercial Complexes: With insufficient roof load-bearing capacity, the need to maintain operations, and aesthetic requirements, the module, lightweight, efficient and reliable, is a perfect fit for these scenarios.
3) Light-Gauge Steel Roofs and Colour-Coated Steel Sheet Roofs: Light-gauge steel roofs, commonly used in modern industrial facilities, inherently lack sufficient load-bearing capacity. The ‘Light Diamond’ module, weighing just 7 kg per square metre, enables the installation of solar panels on these roofs.
4) Special buildings with load restrictions, such as space frame structures, arched roofs and agricultural greenhouses, to which the modules can easily adapt.