Luvata has launched an online solar ribbon calculator called the Sunwire Calculator. The Sunwire Calculator enables photovoltaic module manufacturers to make more informed decisions concerning their solar ribbon needs such as weight, ribbon length per spool and ribbon length per solar panel. ‘Sunwire’ is Luvata’s branded photovoltaic solar ribbon.

Problem

As PV module manufacturers look to reduce usage of silver paste in the cell metallization process, this can increase the number of interconnecting ribbons on the cell. This offers lower costs, while improving the efficiency of the solar cells. Understanding solar ribbon is critically important to solar module efficiency and life cycle. Solar ribbon width and thickness have to be carefully adapted to accommodate the limitations of module materials. In addition, the yield strength, thickness and width of solar ribbon can directly influence production yields and decrease cell to module (CTM) losses by 20-30%.

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Solution

With the introduction of the Luvata Sunwire Calculator, PV module manufacturers can optimize the amount of Sunwire ribbon per spool to accommodate the speed of tabbing machines and shift changes. It provides the opportunity to further refine module materials and Sunwire ribbon for improved module efficiency and reduce overall material costs. Playing with the Sunwire Calculator to determine the solar ribbon weight based on the copper width, copper thickness or coating thickness or the length of Sunwire depending on the number of cells and busbars per cells will help PV module manufactures determine the optimal results.

Applications

Online tool to optimize solar ribbon usage.

Platform

The Sunwire Calculator requires a few simple details to determine the solar ribbon weight, the ribbon length per spool and even the ribbon length per solar panel. The results are made available immediately and can be emailed directly to an email address.