Hanwha Q CELLS Proprietary Q.ANTUM Cell Achieves 19.1% Efficiency Using 1366’s Direct Wafer™ Technology
Hanwha Q CELLS Co., Ltd., a top-10 global photovoltaic manufacturer of high-quality, high-efficiency solar modules, and 1366 Technologies recently announced to have jointly achieved cell efficiency gains of 1.4% using 1366’s Direct Wafer products in only 7 months’ time. Both companies have formed a strategic partnership to collaborate on the development of 1366’s proprietary Direct Wafer Technology in March 2015. Starting from efficiencies of 17.7 % in March, both companies have reached a maximum efficiency of 19.1% using 1366’s wafers in October 2015, as was independently confirmed by the Fraunhofer ISE institute. This significant efficiency gain of 1.4 % in only 7 months strongly shows the potential that lies in combining the unique technologies from both companies. Based on 1366 Technologies´ kerfless, drop-in 156mm multi-crystalline wafers, Hanwha Q CELLS has been applying its proprietary Q.ANTUM cell process on the pilot line in Technology & Innovation Headquarters in Germany.
Daniel Jeong, Global R&D Head at Hanwha Q CELLS said: “These latest results demonstrate the potential in combining 1366´s Direct Wafer Technology with our unique Q.ANTUM technology. Together they can push the efficiency limits of multi-crystalline solar cell technology while at the same time reducing the cost significantly. We´ll continue on our track to jointly mature 1366´s Direct Wafer Technology.”“The disruptive nature of the Direct Wafer process is not only evident in the cost and material savings it provides, but in its ability to break the technology limitations of conventional wafer manufacturing. The rapid and significant efficiency gains we’ve achieved together with Hanwha Q CELLS will be further increased by new wafer features made possible with our process,” said Frank van Mierlo, CEO, 1366 Technologies.
Hanwha Q CELLS´ Q.ANTUM Technology
Q.ANTUM technology is an invention of Hanwha Q CELLS. This complex cell architecture is based on a rear-side passivation of the solar cell and includes many additional technological features for maximum energy yield under real conditions. Q.ANTUM improves power output, low-light and temperature-behavior, while at the same time offering all of Q CELLS´ VDE certified quality standards like Anti-PID protection, Hot-spot protect, and Tra.Q laser marking. Hanwha’s innovative Q.ANTUM cell technology currently achieves 19.5% efficiencies in its commercial mass production using conventional multi wafers. In September 2015, the Q.PLUS-G4 Q.ANTUM module has been awarded the “Solar Industry Award 2015” in the category “Module Manufacturing Innovation”.
1366 Technologies` Direct Wafer Technology
1366 Technologies’ Direct Wafer™ process forms multi-crystalline wafers directly from molten silicon instead of today’s multi-step, energy- and capital-intensive process. The result is a uniformly better wafer, created at one-half the cost. The technology also has the enormous benefit of being a “drop-in” replacement for 60 percent of the photovoltaics market, making it seamless for cell and panel manufacturers to readily adopt the technology without adding a single new piece of equipment.
