Canadian Solar unveils new 400+ Watt bifacial poly PERC black silicon module

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Chinese-Canadian solar manufacturer Canadian Solar has unveiled what it claims to be the first poly bifacial module exceeding 400+ Watt nominal front side power, at the Solar Power International (SPI) trade show, which opened today in Anaheim, California.

Canadian Solar said its polycrystalline, P4-based BiHiKu PERC module is able to provide up to 30% additional output from the rear side, while benefiting from better performance due to the use of black silicon.

The module will be commercially available from next year, Canadian Solar said, with the first order being taken now.

“BiHiKu is perfect for large commercial or utility-scale solar installations, particularly where a high reflection ground or surface under the module creates high albedo, contributing to high back-side yield,” the company stated. “Solar systems using BiHiKu will be able to break away from the pack and score high on low LCOE [levelized cost of electricity], making many seemingly impossible low-PPA solar projects possible,” Canadian Solar CEO Shawn Qu said.

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A comparison with bifacial technologies of other solar manufacturers remains difficult, as one of the main issues related to the technology is the lack of an official standard to measure their power rating. Chinese tier-1 solar company JinkoSolar recently joined forces with Germany’s TÜV Rheinland to develop a standardized testing method for bifacial solar modules.

Chinese manufacturer Jolywood recently presented a 60-cell bifacial module with power of 330-340 W which it claims can reach a power rating nearer 400 W. Trina Solar unveiled a solar module integrating the technology of its high efficiency bifacial PERC cell and Duomax module in April 2017. In December, Longi announced an 82.15% record bifaciality for a version of its monocrystalline PERC cells.

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