JA Solar ramping P-type mono PERCIUM solar cells to 350MW

Tier-one PV manufacturer, JA Solar has said it is ramping its P-type monocrystalline solar cells (PERCIUM) to 170MW in 2014 and plans to reach a capacity of 350MW in 2015.

JA Solar’s PERCIUM cells have surpassed a conversion efficiency of 20.3% (156x156 mm2), which have been certified by the Fraunhofer ISE's photovoltaic calibration laboratory (CalLab) in Freiburg, Germany.

PERCIUM-based modules were said to have reached an average power rating of 285W. Both are being put into volume production from the 20th June onwards, according to the company.

The company noted that it had one PERCIUM solar cell production line in operation and planned to have four lines in October 2014 and eight lines in operation in 2015.

“High conversion efficiency can bring about low system cost per watt, which means low BOS, transportation, installation and land cost.” said Yong Liu, chief operation officer of JA Solar. “PERCIUM solar cell uses Passivated backside and local BSF technology to ensure the excellent low-light performance of PERCIUM cells module. High cost performance at the system side can help to reduce cost of power per kWh.”

Monocrystalline wafers have traditionally carried a significantly higher manufacturing cost to multicrystalline wafers, however a number of lower cost production techniques are being deployed that reduce the production costs to match and exceed those of multicrystalline wafers.