SunEdison Inc. has introduced a zero white space (ZWS) solar module designed to lower the total system cost of solar installations while increasing the power output.
The ZWS technology reduces the unused area on the front surface of the solar module not directly involved in electricity production. The technology uses the area between solar cells in order to eliminate losses due to bus bar shadowing and reduce electrical losses. As a result, SunEdison claims the solar module can increase power output by up to 15 percent while decreasing total system cost by up to 8 percent.
Currently, SunEdison products are capable of producing 350 watt peak modules in a 72 cell format but utilizing the ZWS module, the Belmont, CA-based company said it can boost the performance up to 400 watts.
Dave Ranhoff, president of solar materials at SunEdison, said in a statement that the ZWS technology is well suited for area-constrained residential installations where savings can be as much as thousands of dollars. He added that the initial increase of 10 percent peak power output from the initial module “is just the beginning of where ZWS can take performance”
SunEdison said high volume manufacturing of the ZWS module is expected to begin in the second half of 2015.
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