Alpha Series Technology
REC Alpha Series panels are subject to external certifications e.g., IEC
/ & UL , which include accelerated testing under
humidity-freeze, thermal cycle and damp heat conditions. Furthermore,
REC tests panels through rigorous internal qualification up to three
times more the IEC test criteria to ensure the panels meet our stringent
quality standards and that the panels have a long lifetime.
How does the REC Alpha improve carbon footprint?
Reducing carbon footprint is oen a key mover to invest in solar. The
use of advanced low temperature interconnection technology to
create a solder-free cell connection uses less energy in production
while providing customers with more power density, i.e., more power
from the panels fits in a limited space. This means they can generate
even more clean energy from their installation, to further reduce their
own carbon footprint.
REC shows its commitment to sustainability with the REC Alpha
Series, which, due to the enormous reduction of lead content in the
panel, also stands for environmentally-friendly solar. As the advanced
cell connections of the Alpha are solder-
free, the lead content of a panel is reduced by
compared to standard panels. As a result
lead now makes up only . of the total
weight compared to . in a conventional
panel. The Alpha is therefore much less
harmful to the environment and easier to
dispose of at the end of its working life.
What advantages does REC’s new frame design offer?
The REC Alpha Series has been tested to withstand Pa snow
load and up to Pa wind load and features our innovative S
frame design. This is a mm frame with support bars on the rear to
ensure stability and durability. The reinforcement provided from the
support bars prevents the glass layer from bending as far under heavy
load, protecting the cells from any extreme deflection. As there is
less risk of cell damage, and/or frame and glass breakage, the panels
retain their ability to deliver high power over a longer period giving
customers higher overall long-term energy yields.
What advantages does a split junction box offer?
Spliing the junction box into smaller parts uses less metallization,
reducing resistance in the panel (fig. ). It also enables the panel to
be split into two ‘twin cell sections’ of half-cut cells connected in
parallel, which forms REC’s iconic Twin panel design.
With the three smaller boxes, there is a reduction in heat build up in
the cells behind the junction box of between and °C compared to
a standard panel. The cells are therefore cooler, increasing absorption
efficiency, reducing resistance, reliability and overall output.
Fig : Rear view of the REC Alpha panel with support bars and split junction box
REC’s Twin Design on the Alpha
Each half of the panel consists of cells that have been cut into two
equally sized pieces to create REC’s iconic half-cut cell design. The
cells are then connected in series, in three strings of cells. The two
are then connected in parallel to create a panel of six strings with
half-cut cells.
With this layout, the panel can continue to produce energy, even when
one part is shaded. What this means, is that rather than the shading
causing a bypass diode to be activated and a cell string the complete
length of the panel being circumvented, bringing the string capacity
down with it, only half the panel is bypassed, enabling at least to
continue contributing to overall energy yield.
Fig : REC Alpha Series Panel with six internal strings of cells
Cuing the cells into two equal pieces reduces the current per cell by
half. Power loss in a cell is proportional to the square of the current
(Ploss = R x I, where R is the resistance and I is the current), therefore
power loss in the REC Alpha Series is reduced by a factor of four
compared to full size cells.
Conclusion:
The REC Alpha Series pushes panel power, efficiency, and reliability,
ever higher. The combination of crystalline silicon with amorphous
silicon in an HJT cell provides excellent passivation properties due
to the difference in band gaps. Added to this, REC’s advanced low
temperature cell connection technology helps achieve even higher
efficiency through increased number contact points, improving
current flow and reducing ohmic losses. Additionally, the solder-free
cell connections mean the amount of lead in the panel is lower, for a
reduced environmental impact. The result of this is a panel with much
higher power density compared to a conventional panel, making the
REC Alpha Series the premier product where space is limited.
However, the initial power level of a solar panel is not the only critical
feature, but also the performance over its entire lifetime. It is here that
the REC Alpha Series excels. With the removal of cell soldering there
are fewer weak points caused by thermal stress, making them less
susceptible to micro-cracks, hotspots and other defects. Meanwhile the
super-strong frame design provides additional robustness, affording
increased protection over a longer period of time.
With new technology enabling increased energy generation and
ensuring that power is generated over decades, the REC Alpha
Series is supported by a industry leading warranty. A maximum of
degradation in year one and . degradation in years , leading
to a final value of aer years is guaranteed, making it the ideal
solar panel for high energy generation over its entire working lifetime.
1
4
2
5
3
6
a b c
www.recgroup.com