By SEOUL, South Korea — Hanwha Q CELLS and 1366 Technologies have jointly achieved cell efficiency gains of 1.4% using 1366’s Direct Wafer products in only seven months’ time. Both companies have formed a strategic partnership to collaborate on the development of 1366’s proprietary Direct Wafer™ Technology in March 2015.
Starting from efficiencies of 17.7 % in March, both companies reached a maximum efficiency of 19.1% using 1366’s wafers in October 2015, as was independently confirmed by the Fraunhofer ISE institute.
This significant efficiency gain of 1.4 % in only seven months strongly shows the potential that lies in combining the unique technologies from both companies. Based on 1366 Technologies’ kerfless, drop-in 156mm multi-crystalline wafers, Hanwha Q CELLS has been applying its proprietary Q.ANTUM cell process on the pilot line in its Technology & Innovation Headquarters in Germany.
Daniel Jeong, Global R&D Head at Hanwha Q CELLS said: “These latest results demonstrate the potential in combining 1366´s Direct Wafer Technology with our unique Q.ANTUM technology. Together they can push the efficiency limits of multi-crystalline solar cell technology while at the same time reducing the cost significantly. We’ll continue on our track to jointly mature 1366’s Direct Wafer™ Technology.”
“The disruptive nature of the Direct Wafer process is not only evident in the cost and material savings it provides, but in its ability to break the technology limitations of conventional wafer manufacturing. The rapid and significant efficiency gains we’ve achieved together with Hanwha Q CELLS will be further increased by new wafer features made possible with our process,” said Frank van Mierlo, CEO, 1366 Technologies.
Hanwha Q CELLS’ Q.ANTUM Technology
Q.ANTUM technology is an invention of Hanwha Q CELLS. This complex cell architecture is based on a rear-side passivation of the solar cell and includes many additional technological features for maximum energy yield under real conditions. Q.ANTUM improves power output, low-light and temperature-behavior, while at the same time offering all of Q CELLS’ VDE certified quality standards like Anti-PID protection, Hot-spot protect, and Tra.Q laser marking. Hanwha’s innovative Q.ANTUM cell technology currently achieves 19.5% efficiencies in its commercial mass production using conventional multi wafers. In September 2015, the Q.PLUS-G4 Q.ANTUM module has been awarded the “Solar Industry Award 2015” in the category “Module Manufacturing Innovation”.
1366 Technologies` Direct Wafer™ Technology
1366 Technologies’ Direct Wafer™ process forms multi-crystalline wafers directly from molten silicon instead of today’s multi-step, energy- and capital-intensive process. The result is a uniformly better wafer, created at one-half the cost. The technology also has the enormous benefit of being a “drop-in” replacement for 60 percent of the photovoltaics market, making it seamless for cell and panel manufacturers to readily adopt the technology without adding a single new piece of equipment.
About Hanwha Q CELLS
In February 2015 Hanwha Q CELLS Co., Ltd. (NASDAQ: HQCL) emerged as a new global solar power leader from combining two of the world´s most recognized photovoltaic manufacturers, Hanwha SolarOne and Hanwha Q CELLS. The combined company is listed on NASDAQ under the trading symbol of HQCL. It is headquartered in Seoul, South Korea, (Global Executive Headquarters) and Thalheim, Germany (Technology & Innovation Headquarters) and is the world’s largest solar cell manufacturer as well as one of the largest photovoltaic module manufacturers. Due to its diverse international production setup including facilities in China, Malaysia and South Korea, Hanwha Q CELLS is in the unique position to flexibly address market needs globally, even including certain key markets with import tariffs, such as the USA and the European Union. Based on its well respected “Engineered in Germany” technology, innovation and quality, Hanwha Q CELLS offers the entire range of outstanding photovoltaic products, applications and solutions, from modules to kits to systems to large scale solar power plants. The combined company is also engaged in downstream development and EPC business. Through its growing global business network spanning Europe, North America, Asia, South America, Africa and the Middle East the company provides excellent services and long-term partnership to its customers in the utility, commercial, government and residential markets. Hanwha Q CELLS is a flagship company of Hanwha Group, a Top-Ten business enterprise in South Korea.
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