- Hanwha Q Cells plans to launch a new solar module using N-type and passivating contacts technology in 2021
- The new product is called Q.Tron and will be based on its improved Q.Antum technology that it calls Q.Antum Neo
- It has pledged an additional €15.5 million on its German R&D headquarters to drive its next generation solar module technology development
Global solar cell and module producer Hanwha Q Cell GmbH will introduce Q.Tron, a new solar module from the Korean company in 2021, to be built using its Q.Antum Neo N-type technology. It is an improvement over its Q.Antum technology roadmap.
Q.Tron, with its N-type+passivating contacts technology, will likely come with higher efficiencies ‘well above the levels of current P-type modules’.
To this end, the South Korea headquartered company has started investing an additional €15.5 million ($19 million) into its global research and development (R&D) headquarters in Thalheim, near Bitterfeld-Wolfen in Germany. This is on top of €20 million investment into requisite machinery and equipment for next generation PV technology development it pledged in 2020, the company reminded.
These 2 investments along with around €35 million it spends annually on R&D initiatives, Hanwha said it will be investing over €140 million by 2023 on the German location for technological innovation and quality.
“Our precise investment roadmap has been carefully considered to ensure that Q CELLS can continue to shape the next-generation of solar energy technology for many years to come,” said Q Cells CTO Dr. Daniel Jeong.
The German location is also simultaneously working on perovskite tandem solar cell R&D, it added.
Speaking of high power modules, TaiyangNews is holding on May 17/18 a 2-day virtual conference on Very High-Power Solar Modules where global PV manufacturing leaders discuss their latest products just before the world’s largest solar show goes live in June 2021 as SNEC. On #Day 1, for example, JinkoSolar presented a 22.3% efficient n-type based 610W module it will display at SNEC. Register for free here.
