N.I.C.E.-Wire: Next Generation Robust Eco-Friendly Bifacial PV Modules with High Efficiency

As PV enters the terawatt era, reliability, sustainability and low carbon footprint of solar modules are key requirements. The N.I.C.E.TM technology from Apollon Solar is a good candidate for significant improvements in these areas. As the second-generation pilot line is now functional with IEC certification underway, we present a holistic assessment of N.I.C.E.TM technology compared with conventional module technology with encapsulant. This includes electrical performance and cost/consumables, reliability, and degradation mechanisms as well as sustainability aspects. In addition, the new generation of N.I.C.E.-wire modules are presented that use thin round Cu wires instead of flat ribbons for interconnection. This candidate technology for an alternative to the Smart Wire Connection Technology (SWCT) is investigated experimentally as well as via numerical simulations.

Institute of Sustainable Energy Systems (INES), and many more

Daniel Kray and Soumi Bandyopadhyay and Laura Heuberger and Daniel Weiser and Dzevad Muranovic and Hans Rudert and Roland Einhaus

IEEE Journal of Photovoltaics

Bifacial,Interconnection,N.I.C.E.,Recycling,Simulation,Smart Wire Connection Technology (SWCT),Solar module,Sustainability,Wire

2022

1

10.1109/JPHOTOV.2021.3124168

21563403

1

38-44

IEEE Electron Devices Society

12