CIS PowerModules by Solar Frontier

Highest yields – even under extreme conditions

PowerModule www.solar-frontier.eu CIS Technology External factors for PV yields Developed for highest yields. A matter of prevailing conditions.

The photovoltaic market offers a wide range but this technology is currently years away from What criteria should an ideal photovoltaic installation of solar modules based on very diverse tech- serial production. meet to consistently produce the highest yields? CISnologies. What sets CIS apart not only from crystal- The modules fall into the main categories of: line modules but also from other thin-film • Thin-film modules technologies such as -telluride is • Crystalline modules based on silicon their outstanding environmental friendliness: • Organic modules CIS PowerModules by Solar Frontier are free of • HIT and tandem solar cells cadmium and lead, requiring no special recyc- If you could select the criteria that the ideal tures, fog or clouds and in winter, snow pro- ling process. Therefore, they meet the stringent rooftop installation should have to meet, you vides a partial covering for the roof. Each of Thin-film technology is the most innovative requirements of the RoHS guideline (Restriction would probably choose an installation facing these factors reduces the yield. of these segments. But this field can be of Hazardous Substances). south on a roof tilted at an angle that is best approached in a variety of different ways. suited for sunlight to strike in any season. The The solution: One of them is the solution offered by CIS Added value throughout. environs of this installation would be absolu- Highest yields - even under technology. Its name is derived from the ele- tely free of shade, the air always clear and de- extreme conditions. ments copper (C), (I) and (S). On the whole, the CIS technology developed void of impurities from dirt, dust, fog or smog. by Solar Frontier offers a unique combination What‘s more, the weather would always be With CIS PowerModules by Solar Superior features. of advantageous features – not only for rooftop, both sunny and cold because in addition to Frontier. but also for free-field installations: the above conditions, high solar radiation va- A decisive advantage of CIS over conventional lues and low temperatures offer the best pre- This is precisely where the advantages of CIS resides in the higher output • greater efficiency & higher yields mises for the highest yields. technology come in. Thanks to their high per installed watt-peak – resulting in a larger • greater security shadadow tolerance and their favorable low- energy production of the installation. Their • greater environmental friendliness In other words: An ideal PV installation will al- light performance the CIS PowerModules by advantage over other thin-film modules (such • greater aesthetics ways be rare. That‘s because the real world is Solar Frontier offer the highest yields even as amorphous, micromorphous or tandem mo- usually quite different. Roofs often face east under extreme conditions: with shadows, at dules) lies in the higher efficiency. Aside from Take a look at the added value of or west. Trees, chimneys or nearby buildings high temperatures and low light. In addition, CIS, organic modules also hold great potential; CIS PowerModules by Solar Frontier! cast shadows. Pollutants are in the air. The with what is called the light soaking effect weather fluctuates between high tempera- they even offer additional yield results.

2 | CIS CIS | 3 Greater efficiency: excellent low-light behavior Greater efficiency: high shadow tolerance Highest yields – Highest yields – even with foggy outlook. even in the shade.

Mornings, evenings, fog, diffuse light, over- Due to their high shadow tolerance, CIS thin- but the entire module shuts down. As oppo- cast skies – the sun rarely shines full force. film modules are very efficient even when sed to this, CIS PowerModules are affected And yet, it is precisely in the midst of these shadows are cast over the modules or the only in the covered area. This means higher daily adversities that, thanks to their good surfaces are partly covered up (for instance yields even in the shade. low-light performance, the CIS PowerMo- with leaves). The reason for this can be found dules by Solar Frontier produce more pow- in the different cellular structure. The square There is another advantage to this high sha- er than others. silicon cells in the module are connected in de tolerance: Rows of modules can be moun- substrings. Contrary to this, the long and very ted closer together in free-field installations Due to their wide spectral sensitivity that In practice, the good low-light performance narrow thin-film cells are connected in series. and on industrial flat roofs. This means that is optimized to the luminous density of the of the CIS PowerModules means that the If in conventional silicon modules part of the higher power yields can be achieved in limi- sun, Solar Frontier modules generate more modules generate high yields even under surface is covered up, then not only one cell, ted spaces. kilowatt hours even in weaker light condi- conditions that are unfavorable for crys- tions. Thanks to their sensitivity to red and talline silicon modules. Even on east-west infrared light, they get to work early, gene- roofs, flat roofs or even roofs facing north, rating power in the early morning hours they achieve more operating hours and de- and continuing on into late in the evening; liver more than any other mo- they can even convert the93 short-wave dif- dule technology. fuse blue light during the day better than 95 90 CIS c-Si other technologies. 100 95 75 65 50 CIS 50

Output (%) 25 c-Si 0 0 20 40 60 80 100 Fig. below: Mounting examples for PV installations with CIS PowerModules Shade (%) shadow shadow c-Si modules CIS PowerModules

steady energy c-Si modules produce CIS PowerModules produce steady energy due to their on tilted roof in tilted roof on flat roof in flat roof curtain façade cold/hot façade skylight roofs sun shield production in spite far less under the same shade tolerance, even when part of the cell is shaded of shade conditions

Reference: Blandford, United Kingdom Reference: Bottrop, Germany

The challenge: poor weather conditions, much rain The challenge: Partial afternoon shade

System capacity 41.4 kWp System capacity 42.75 kWp Annual global irradiance 1,091 kWh/m2 Annual global irradiance 950 – 1,000 kWh/m2 Average yearly temperature 10.7 °C Average yearly temperature 9.6 °C Annual precipitation 786.6 mm Annual precipitation 930 mm

4 | CIS CIS | 5 Permission kindly granted by SaveEnergy Greater efficiency: high temperature stability Greater efficiency: „Light Soaking Effect“ Highest yields – Highest yields – and how even in sweltering heat. you reap added benefits.

In all photovoltaic modules, output dimini- ven in percent per degree Kelvin (%/°K) in the Now, let‘s say you‘re starting your car on a buffer layer. This buffer layer initially forms an shes with increasing temperatures, which technical data sheet. At an outside tempera- cold winter morning. As long as the motor is energy barrier which hampers the electron results in yield losses. This is why the perfor- ture in excess of 30° Celsius, solar modules still cold it clearly puts out less power. How- flow. Triggered by the photons of the sun- mance of conventional technologies is con- exposed to the heat for hours at a time can ever, the output increases noticeably as soon light, the first electrons begin moving and siderably lower in the summer months or in reach temperatures of up to 70 °C. as the motor has warmed up. The same ap- neutralize the initially still existent defective hot regions, in spite of high sunshine values. plies for what is called the „light soaking ef- areas in the border of the layers. This makes Therefore, especially in the summer and in fect.“ the energy barrier smaller, facilitates the flow CIS PowerModules are less dependent on hot regions, the temperature stability of CIS of the next electrons and reduces the series temperature than crystalline silicon modules PowerModules is a great advantage, which The light soaking effect is the ability of the resistance. As a result, the energy flux at the and therefore exhibit greater temperature is reflected in a higher energy production of module to generate several percent more module and the module efficiency are incre- stability. This is reflected in a low temperature over 10% compared to crystalline modules. output after about 50 hours of sunshine than ased. coefficient of the output, which is usually gi- it could at the time of its production, which was fixed with flash list values (the electrical If the efficiency of a CIS PowerModule increa- characteristics of the PV module under stan- ses to a higher value due to the light soaking dard test conditions - its birth certificate, so effect, it will remain stable over the entire life to speak). cycle. Output losses occurring over the life- time of the modules correspond to the na- 100 The CIS layer applied to the substrate in seve- tural degradation of less than 0.5% per year. 95 CIS ral work steps is topped by a nanometer-thin 90

85 Fig.: Low temperature coefficient means: Output (%) 80 c-Si almost one-third lower energy production losses Confirmed by: at high temperatures 25° >> Module temperature (C°) >> 70° e.g. at a module temperature of 70 °C: CIS PowerModule: -13.9 % c-Si modules CIS PowerModules c-Si module (typ.): -20.3 % Change in maximum output Normalized maximum output 1.2 1.10

1.08 1.1 1.06 measured nominal output 1.04 1.0 Pmax after light soaking 1.02 speci ed output 1.00 0.9 speci ed output 0.98 0 0.5 1.0 1.5 2.0 0.8 Reference: Windhoek, Namibia Cumulative solar radiation (kWh/m2) 0 1 2 3 4 5 6 Working life in years The challenge: High daytime and low nighttime temperatures, intense solar radiation Fig.: Pmax drops by 0.5 %/year (10% in 20 years). On the whole, the nominal power output is maintained. The light soaking effect of the CIS PowerModules results in greater output than that System capacity 69.6 kWp given in our specifications. Annual global irradiance 2,363 kWh/m2 Average yearly temperature 19.9 °C Annual precipitation 362 mm 6 | CIS CIS | 7 Greater security Greater environmental friendliness Reliable quality – Sustainable in every way. reliable partner.

Solar Frontier offers you double security for Solar Frontier also has pertinent experience No doubt about it: Generating electricity with renewable solar energy is fundamentally your solar installation – not only for a product, gathered from numerous large-scale projects characterized by a high degree of environmental friendliness while conserving resources. but also for a company you can depend on. resulting from collaboration with major EPCs And yet the various PV technologies differ considerably among themselves, especially (Engineering, Procurement, Construction) with regard to production methods, raw material requirements and the use of environ- The modules are manufactured under far worldwide. Japan, Germany, France, Mexico mentally hazardous substances. more stringent quality assurance require- and Greece are only a few of the countries in Solar Frontier consistently implements the principal of sustainability ments than usually customary or required. In which large-scale Solar Frontier installations throughout its operations – from handling raw materials through addition to standard quality controls, they are are producing yields beyond all expectations. manufacturing and on to a virtually waste-free delivery. subjected to special load and durability tests. End customers in the private sector also pro- This includes a testing station for hardness fit from our expertise in this area. tests under temperature fluctuations ranging • Eliminating cadmium and lead: • One of the shortest energy payback from -40 to +80 °C. An additional safeguard is provided by local no environmentally hazardous times (EPT) in the market: contacts: Customers in Europe have found a materials are processed The energy required to produce one Highest yields – greatest possible partner in Solar Frontier with knowledge of module is recovered in less than one security for your investment. local condition and capable of dealing on site • One of the few manufacturers to year by the electricity generated by the with customers‘ needs. The European head- comply with the stringent RoHS guide- module. Highest yields at Solar Frontier are also coup- quarters is more than just a sales office; it lines (Restriction of Hazardous Substances) led to the greatest possible security for your combines all functions necessary to support • Replacing cardboard packaging materials with reusable packaging investment. With Shell and Saudi Aramco, customers, including customer service, tech- • Extremely low raw material (company’s own recovery system) Solar Frontier is backed up by two powerful nical support, marketing and training. requirement – especially compared to financial and professional partners who can manufacturing silicon modules* look back on over two decades of expertise in the energy sector and assure a long-term commitment in the market.

* Environmentally safe production through minimal raw material requirement

2.5 MW 2.5 MW 7,500 kg

60 kg

Solar Frontier needs just barely 60 kg of 7.5 metric tons – over 120 times as much – raw materials to produce CIS PowerModules would be required to produce crystalline with a 2.5 MW total output. silicon modules with the same total output.

8 | CIS CIS | 9 Greater aesthetics Solar Frontier Eco-friendly energy has Highest yields – never looked so good. even under extreme conditions.

PV installations were long considered to be re- The unique composition of our CIS Power- World leader in CIS technology. asonable and clever solutions – but definitely Modules is the reason for their typically black not good looking. The CIS PowerModules of appearance, which in some very few cases is Solar Frontier is the world‘s largest and fastest-growing manufacturer of CIS thin-film modules Solar Frontier have completely changed that. slightly cloudy. This is due to what is referred that stand out due to their efficiency, high yield and environmental friendliness. As a 100% sub- The black surface and black frame ensure that to as the Aurora effect. It is caused by the use sidiary of Showa Shell Sekiyu K.K., the company is financially strong – which enables it to stand the modules blend into the architecture and of non-toxic materials such as zinc instead of beside its customers as a reliable and long-term partner. Solar Frontier‘s mission is to develop the the environs in an aesthetically pleasing way. the toxic cadmium. This does not diminish most economical and ecological solar energy solution. What‘s more: in many cases its sleek design the modules’ performance. even improves the overall appearance of the Solar Frontier has been a pioneer in the field of solar energy since the 1970s. Today the company roof or of the entire building. possesses unparalleled expertise in research, development and manufacturing. In 2011 Solar Frontier commenced operations of the world‘s largest manufacturing plant for CIS PowerModules. With a total capacity in the gigawatt range from the total of three factories in Miyazaki, Solar Fron- tier is the world‘s leading provider of CIS thin-film technology – and is extremely well prepared for the international demand for solar modules with superior efficiency and high yield capacity. Aside from our headquarters in Tokyo, we have regional subsidiaries in Germany and the United States. We have more than 1,500 employees worldwide.

Reliable local partner: Solar Frontier Europe.

Solar Frontier Europe was founded in 2010 in Munich, Germany, in order to provide optimal care to customers in Europe, Africa and Middle East. However, the company is far more than just a sales office: Solar Frontier unites all services necessary to provide faultless local support to customers. This support includes technical support, project development, customer service and more.

For further information please visit us at: www.solar-frontier.eu

10 | CIS CIS CIS | 11 Japan Tokyo

USA San José

Germany Munich

Solar Frontier – at a glance

Company Experience Research & Development

• Solar Frontier operates worldwide in • We have more than 35 years of • We run our own R&D department with the area of solutions experience in more than 200 employees within the • Our origins are in Japan, • Development of solar technologies Atsugi Research Center (Japan) our business is global. in cooperation with the government • Our CIS modules already set numerous of Japan and scientists world records in module efficiency

CIS technology Financial strength Contact

• Market leader in CIS technology • Financially strong shareholders Solar Frontier Europe GmbH (copper (C), indium (I) and Shell and Saudi Aramco Bavariafilmplatz 8 selenium (S)) • Comprehensive track record of 82031 Gruenwald • World’s largest manufacturer major debt-financed projects Germany in the gigawatt range [email protected] www.solar-frontier.eu Tel. +49 (0)89 92 86 142 0

Please find more information on our website: www.solar-frontier.eu

BRCIS-2-56-PEE4 © Solar Frontier Europe GmbH

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