JA Solar’s DEEPBLUE 3.0 panels drive PV power plant LCOE down to new levels

Facebook
Twitter
LinkedIn
Reddit
Email
JA Solar has launched its highest performing large-area PV panel series, DEEPBLUE 3.0, which integrates a number of key technologies to provide power outputs of over 525Wp. Image: JA Solar

Updated: JA Solar has launched its highest performing large-area PV panel series, DEEPBLUE 3.0, which integrates a number of key technologies to provide power outputs of up to 545Wp. The new series is designed for an era of grid parity and intensive electricity price competition to effectively reduce the levelized cost of energy (LCOE) and maximize the economic value of PV systems for the renewable energy generation.

Problem

This article requires Premium SubscriptionBasic (FREE) Subscription

Unlock unlimited access for 12 whole months of distinctive global analysis

Photovoltaics International is now included.

  • Regular insight and analysis of the industry’s biggest developments
  • In-depth interviews with the industry’s leading figures
  • Unlimited digital access to the PV Tech Power journal catalogue
  • Unlimited digital access to the Photovoltaics International journal catalogue
  • Access to more than 1,000 technical papers
  • Discounts on Solar Media’s portfolio of events, in-person and virtual

Or continue reading this article for free

The PV industry is undergoing rapid technological development at wafer, cell and module level that is driving an unprecedented wave of new solar panel products onto the market. The rapid shift is being driven by the need to continue to reduce the LCOE, supported by solar panels enabling in quick succession 400Wp, 500Wp and soon 600Wp performance in the field. 

Solution

The goal of the new DEEPBLUE 3.0 high-power module series is to bring JA Solar's high-quality and cost-effective products to a whole new level for its worldwide customer base. The DEEPBLUE 3.0 module utilizes the newly presented M10 182mm x 182mm large-area wafer/solar cells, and combines Ultra-T glass, innovative 11 busbar, and PERCIUM+ technologies to achieve its ultra-high conversion efficiency of 21%. Under standard testing conditions, power output of the 6×12, 72 cell DEEPBLUE 3.0 ultra-high efficiency module was able to reach 545Wp-plus. Compared to current mainstream 400W modules, the adoption of 545W+ modules can provide a 7-9% decrease in LCOE to the consumer, resulting in higher profitability, according to the company. The use of half-cut cells has the ability to lower sheet resistance loss in large-area wafers and lower Nominal Operating Cell Temperature (NOCT), while demonstrating improved shading behaviour and reduces hot-spot temperatures. The use of MBB with round ribbon enhances the light absorbtion capability of the cells for higher conversion efficiencies.

Applications

Commercial and industrial and utility-scale PV power plants. 

Platform

The elimination of cell gaps on the DEEPBLUE 3.0 raises the panels conversion efficiency by 0.4%, while the use of lightweight framing brings its weight down 10% to 28.5kg. Single 72-cell glass panel dimensions are provisionally, 2,267mm x 1,123mm using M10 182mm x 182mm large-area wafers. On top of its high-power generation performance and -0.35%/°C temperature coefficient, the panel also boasts a first-year power attenuation rate of 2%. JA Solar has also become the first PV manufacturer to mass-produce high-efficiency Mono PERC MBB cells and modules using Ga-doped wafers. The application of Ga-doped silicon wafers to solar cells can effectively mitigate the initial light-induced degradation (LID) issue, which limits the performance of solar modules with traditional Si wafers. Integrating with PERC-SE technology and large-size wafers, Ga doping technology consistently improves the performance of both cells and modules. 

Availability

Mass production of the DEEPBLUE 3.0 panel is slated to begin in Q3 of 2020 with an anticipated production capacity of 14GW.

PV Tech is hosting a TechTalk Series webinar with JA Solar to help PV project developers, asset owners and interested parties to increase their understanding of the latest trends in PV panel technology, performance and size, to enable greater precision in panel selection. 

Title: “Understanding and benefiting from the rapid shift to larger PV panel sizes for utility-scale projects”

The webinar video can be viewed on the PV Tech YouTube channel here. 

Read Next

May 30, 2025
Independent power producer (IPP) Aquila Clean Energy has started construction on a 52MW agrivoltaics (agriPV) project in Italy.
May 30, 2025
The US added 7.4GW of new renewable energy capacity in the first three months of 2025, with deployments and planned projects concentrated in Republican-voting states.
May 30, 2025
Waaree Solar Americas – a subsidiary of Indian solar manufacturer Waaree Energies – has signed a 586MW solar module supply agreement with an undisclosed independent power producer (IPP).
May 30, 2025
Tasmania’s George Town council approved plans for a 288MW solar PV power plant this week, which is being pursued in Australia by German renewable energy developer ib vogt.
May 29, 2025
The German government is seeking 2.2GW of ground-mounted solar capacity in the most recent round of its public renewable energy tender scheme.
May 29, 2025
Beleaguered Swiss solar manufacturer Meyer Burger has reportedly laid off an unconfirmed number of employees at its US module manufacturing facility.

Subscribe to Newsletter

Upcoming Events

Solar Media Events
June 17, 2025
Napa, USA
Upcoming Webinars
June 30, 2025
10am PST / 6pm BST
Solar Media Events
July 1, 2025
London, UK
Solar Media Events
July 1, 2025
London, UK
Solar Media Events
July 8, 2025
Asia