REC Group to produce heterojunction modules with Meyer Burger’s ‘SmartWire’ technology

Facebook
Twitter
LinkedIn
Reddit
Email
REC Group has said it invested US$150 million in developing and rolling out into volume production a new N-type monocrystalline-based heterojunction (HJ) cell that will use Meyer Burgers ‘SmartWire’ (SWCT) cell connection technology. Image: Meyer Burger

Integrated PV module manufacturer REC Group has said it invested US$150 million in developing and rolling out into volume production a new N-type monocrystalline-based heterojunction (HJ) cell that will use Meyer Burgers ‘SmartWire’ (SWCT) cell connection technology. 

REC said that the new high-performance module would be first showcased at this year’s Intersolar Europe, being held in Munich in mid-May, 2019.

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

Steve O’Neil, CEO of REC Group said, “Our new flagship product will deliver significantly better power density and will fundamentally change the competitive balance between REC and Tier 1 players, opening up a big power gap far beyond what is available today.

Two PV manufacturers, SunPower and LG Electronics lead the high-efficiency and module performance rankings, both using IBC (Interdigitated back contact) solar cell technologies. 

SunPower’s X Series modules average cell conversion efficiency bit 25% at its Fab 4 facility in the Philippines, the highest in the industry in 2017, while LG Electronics introduced last year its LG NeON R module with a power output up to 370W, with 21.4 percent efficiency in a 60-cell configuration.

Panasonic, the largest producer of HJ modules has a conversion efficiency of 19.6% and power output of 330W.

REC Group touted that HJ modules were manufactured without the higher temperatures of other methods, which simplifies the process and reduces manufacturing energy consumption. However, HJ cells are highly sensitive to contamination issues pre and post deposition of the intrinsic amorphous silicon (a-Si:H) thin-film passivation layers. 

8 October 2024
San Francisco Bay Area, USA
PV Tech has been running an annual PV CellTech Conference since 2016. PV CellTech USA, on 8-9 October 2024 is our second PV CellTech conference dedicated to the U.S. manufacturing sector. The event in 2023 was a sell out success and 2024 will once again gather the key stakeholders from PV manufacturing, equipment/materials, policy-making and strategy, capital equipment investment and all interested downstream channels and third-party entities. The goal is simple: to map out PV manufacturing in the U.S. out to 2030 and beyond.
26 November 2024
Málaga, Spain
Understanding PV module supply to the European market in 2025. PV ModuleTech Europe 2024 is a two-day conference that tackles these challenges directly, with an agenda that addresses all aspects of module supplier selection; product availability, technology offerings, traceability of supply-chain, factory auditing, module testing and reliability, and company bankability.

Read Next

Subscribe to Newsletter

Upcoming Events

Solar Media Events
April 10, 2024
Dallas, Texas USA
Solar Media Events
April 17, 2024
Lisbon, Portugal
Solar Media Events
May 1, 2024
Dallas, Texas
Solar Media Events
May 21, 2024
Napa, USA