China — LONGi has unveiled a lightweight solar module designed to address installation challenges on rooftops with limited load-bearing capacity, a factor that prevents an estimated 30% of rooftops worldwide from adopting solar.
The new Hi-MO X10 Light Design Module, launched on August 15, is based on HPBC 2.0 cell technology and achieves a maximum efficiency of 24.8% with power output up to 560W. The module weighs 7.2 kg per square meter—more than 30% lighter than conventional modules—making it suitable for older or low-load structures.
Traditional rooftop reinforcements required for solar installations can be expensive and disruptive. In China, reinforcement costs can reach 0.5 RMB/W, adding up to roughly 500,000 RMB for a 10,000 m² rooftop. The installation of lightweight modules reduces or eliminates the need for such reinforcement, cutting installation time from about 42 days to as few as 8–10 days.
Safety and Mechanical Performance
Despite the reduced weight, the Hi-MO X10 Light includes design features to maintain durability. The module incorporates additional welding ribbons to improve load distribution, increases frame thickness by 5%, and uses a strengthened frame structure that improves overall mechanical strength by 20%. These measures enhance resistance to compression, bending, wind, and snow.
The module integrates safety features designed to mitigate risks from shading. Testing shows the module’s backplane temperature under shading is on average 7.43°C lower than comparable TOPCon modules, reducing the chance of overheating and fire. In shading scenarios such as bird droppings or leaves, the module maintains a lower localized temperature of about 80°C, lowering fire risks.
Market Context
Lightweight and flexible solar modules are not new, but existing products have often struggled with durability and long-term performance issues such as yellowing, deformation, and adhesion failures. Many competing lightweight modules operate at around 21% efficiency, compared to the 24.8% achieved by the Hi-MO X10 Light.
The launch of this module highlights efforts within the solar industry to expand deployment to rooftops that were previously unsuitable for solar due to structural limitations.
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