Transparent Backsheet Based Topcon Module From Jolywood

• Jolywood has developed a transparent backsheet-based TOPCon module that inherits the performance attributes of its legacy products, including a mass production cell efficiency of 25.2%
• Jolywood's transparent backsheet has a 3-layer structure with transparent organic-inorganic nano-hybrid material layers on the air side and the EVA side, sandwiching a transparent PET core layer.
• Jolywood had a TOPCon production capacity of 7.6 GW as of the end of 2022 and expects to reach 19 GW by the end of 2023.

Jolywood as a company is somewhat special in that it has been exclusively focusing on n-type technology since 2017. It was also one of the first companies to bring TOPCon into mass production. Jolywood is also a market leader in the backsheet segment. By combining its expertise in these 2 areas, Jolywood has developed a transparent backsheet-based TOPCon module.

Frank Wang, product manager at Jolywood, presented the details of the product at the TaiyangNews conference. The product inherits the performance attributes of the legacy products, including a mass production cell efficiency of 25.2%, degradation of 1% in the first year, linear degradation of 0.4%, and a low temperature coefficient of 0.3%/°C, which results in a 1-2% power gain in high temperature regions (see recording here).

Jolywood is also recognized by PVEL as the best performance module maker, as its products have passed stringent testing conditions that are several times higher than the IEC test specifications. Jolywood also holds the record for the highest TOPCon certified efficiency of 26.7%, achieved in April 2023.

Jolywood has developed a high transmittance backsheet technology called Hauberk, which uses organic and inorganic nano-hybrid alloy materials. The backsheet has a 3-layer structure with transparent organic-inorganic nano-hybrid material layers of 20 μm and 15 μm on the air side and the EVA side, respectively, sandwiching a 275 μm transparent PET core layer. A microwave curing process is used to form a dense alloy of transparent protective layers on both sides of the backsheet. Jolywood has also developed a transparent backsheet with grids that increase the reflectivity in bifacial modules.

The first advantage of using a transparent backsheet is that it reduces the module weight by 17%, which makes it easier to transport and install. It also has a light transmittance of above 93% for the wavelength band of 400 to 1,100 nm, which is slightly higher than the typical rear glass used in a double-glass module. According to Wang, the performance of the transparent backsheet-based modules is better than glass even after damp heat and UV tests. The transparent backsheet also has self-cleaning properties due to its hydrophobic nature, which prevents dust from sticking to the surface.

Addressing the long-term reliability concerns of the transparent backsheet, Wang presented the results of UV and damp heat tests, which are used to simulate the long-term operating environment. The results showed that the modules using Jolywood's transparent backsheet have comparable reliability as that of white backsheet-based products. Wang also presented real-time test data from Yinchuan city in Ningxia, China, which has a high density of PV installations. The data showed that the operating temperature of the transparent backsheet module is at least 1.13 °C lower than that of double-glass modules. The average power generation of the transparent backsheet modules was also found to be 1.29% higher than that of double-glass modules.

Jolywood had a TOPCon production capacity of 7.6 GW as of the end of 2022 and expects to reach 19 GW by the end of 2023.

Jolywood is in 8th position in TaiyangNews Top Solar Modules Listing, the Niwa Pro module based on TOPCon technology, has 440 W power and 22.53% efficiency (see Top Solar Modules Listing – September 2023).

The text is an excerpt from TaiyangNews New Solar Products Overview H1/2023, which can be downloaded for free here.