Seamless Soldering technology uses a soldering ribbon to completely eliminate any gap between the cells so as to increase the efficiency of PV modules. This technology can make the PV modules technology reach much higher efficiencies and power which greatly support in decreasing the LCOE.
How Seamless Soldering technology works?
Due to the challenges of producing high efficiency and low cost solar modules, manufacturers are constantly seeking new technology and production process which help them to effectively produce high efficiency and output solar modules with competitive prices so as to beat the competition. The Seamless Soldering technology is a new technology that utilizes a solder ribbon to reach a “tiled” interconnection between the cells, thus completely eliminating the standard gap of 2 mm width, accordingly increasing the efficiency of the module while decreasing the material cost of the module.
Benefits of the Seamless Soldering technology
The Seamless Soldering technology is perfectly compatible as well with the existing process of module encapsulation and equipment, so it has a high probability for mass production stability, and the production capacity is simply scalable.
The Seamless Soldering technology has good technical compatibility for integration with the monocrystalline silicon wafers, soldering wire, thin silicon wafers and reflective ribbon.
Spread and Growth of Seamless Soldering technology
LONGI which is the Chinese major PV manufacturer is the first to announce the technology, said it has carried out tests conducted by the well-known certification agency TÜV SÜD, which concluded that the Seamless Soldering technology, when joined with an innovative module design, has the potential to make the company’s power record for high efficiency PERC modules reach new levels of 500Wp. The tiled interconnection is also named “shingle” technology, which originally was developed by two American companies –Solaria and SunPower
All big module manufacturers have showcased shingle modules at trade fairs, yet most are not commercially selling these products as they try to steer away from any patent problems. Still, recent developments and industry news claim the many companies will shortly enter the shingle module production because of new ways that will not be infringing any patents.