Photovoltaic news and pv jobs

JA Solar and ECN join efforts to introduce high efficiency PV modules

JA Solar Holdings Co., Ltd. today announced at the Intersolar Europe trade fair that it has partnered with the Energy Research Centre of the Netherlands (ECN) to introduce the metal wrap through (MWT) solar cell and module technology into production.

The partnership aims to reduce the cost of electricity. Image: Wikipedia/Guam.

Through this partnership, JA Solar and ECN aim to reduce the cost of electricity generated through solar energy by working together to produce cost-effective, high-efficiency solar modules.

The MWT technology, said JA Solar, minimizes shading loss at the front cell surface, resulting in an increased active front surface area of the solar cell. Modules can be assembled in a fully automated process with Eurotron equipment. This technology, continued the company, allows handling of thin solar cells at high throughput and yield. The company also said that ECN has recently successfully manufactured high-efficiency MWT solar modules, achieving a world record efficiency in 2009 of 17.0 percent (aperture area) for photovoltaic modules with multi-crystalline silicon cells.

"We are very pleased to be working with ECN to develop the next generation MWT solar cell technology for high efficiency solar modules," said Yong Liu, senior VP of Manufacturing and CTO of JA Solar. "The MWT technology can effectively increase photovoltaic module conversion efficiency with the benefit of higher power output and it allows further reduction of material costs, lowering the cost of solar electricity."

Ton Hoff, managing director of ECN added: "A crucial element in ECN's mission is to bring technology to application. We are therefore very happy that ECN's technology is going to be industrialized in cooperation with a leading innovative partner like JA Solar."