European orders have opened through distributors, with the first deliveries starting in the UK
The 495 W C2 S Black residential module reaches 24.3% efficiency in an all-black, dual-glass format
The 670 W C2 L and C2 L UPP models reach 24.8% front-side efficiency and 75 ± 5% bifaciality
Chinese solar module supplier TCL Solar has made its C2 back-contact (BC) modules available to order through European distributors, beginning its rollout in the UK. The range comprises three versions: C2 S Black, C2 L and C2 L UPP.
For residential and small commercial roofs, TCL offers the C2 S Black HSM-BE54-HD. The 108-cell, dual-glass module reaches 495 W and 24.3% efficiency. It measures 1,800 × 1,134 × 30 mm and weighs 26 kg. According to TCL, overlapping cells remove visible gaps and give the module a uniform black appearance.
The bifacial, dual-glass C2 L is for commercial installations and the C2 L UPP is for power plants. Two models have nearly the same specifications, at least from the publicly available information, but different product warranties: 25 years for C2 L and 15 years for C2 L UPP. Both are rated at 670 W and 24.8% front-side efficiency. Each measures 2,382 × 1,134 × 30 mm and weighs 32.5 kg. The modules have a bifaciality of 75 ± 5%, a maximum system voltage of 1,500 V, and a power temperature coefficient of −0.26%/°C.
TCL specifies at least 99% of rated output after the first year and maximum annual degradation of 0.35% thereafter. The residential version carries a 25-year product warranty. All three carry 30-year power warranties.
Like any BC module, the C2 range also places electrical contacts of both polarities on the rear of the cells, leaving the front free of metal busbars. At the TaiyangNews Global PV System Technology Trends Conference, Xiao Geng, Deputy Chief Engineer of Product Planning at TCL Solar, described its directly processed half-cut wafers, zero-busbar interconnection and dense contact welding as the key features of the company’s BC technology platform. TCL says the gapless BC design provides more than 5% higher power density compared with standard both-side-contacted modules of the same size.
“Back-contact is now our flagship technology platform,” said Steven Zhang, General Manager of TCL SunPower Global. The company says its July acquisition of DAS Solar’s BC cell and module manufacturing operations expanded its BC cell and module manufacturing capacity (see TCL Zhonghuan Completes DAS Solar Deal, Bets On BC).
