First Solar new Series 6 Module available Q2 2018

01/05/2018 | Print view

The new Series 6 thin film solar module of First Solar can be more easily installed and has a power rating of 420-445 W. - © First Solar — © First Solar

The new Series 6 thin film solar module of First Solar can be more easily installed and has a power rating of 420-445 W.

First Solar unveiled the first functional Series 6 thin film photovoltaic module off the company’s Perrysburg, Ohio, new production line. The new record solar module, that can be easily installed, will be available in early spring 2018.

The large area Cadmium Telluride (CdTe) glass-on-glass module was part of the first batch of material run completely through the recently activated line. According to the company this marks a major milestone in a factory retooling that began just under one year ago, and included approximately $177 million in capital investment.The new line is expected to be producing commercial product by early in the second quarter of 2018, and will have an annualized output of 600MW when operating at full capacity.

Power rating of 420-445 watts

Series 6 is expected to enter the commercial market with a power rating of 420-445 watts and conversion efficiency of over 17 percent. Measuring approximately 2 meters by 1.2 meters, Series 6 modules will provide more watts per lift than comparable crystalline silicon solar panels, and can be installed on virtually any ground-based PV mounting system.

Planned production capacity of 5.GW by 2020

First Solar also announced it is expanding its production facility in Vietnam, essentially doubling production capacity of the initial site, which is still under construction. Annualized production capacity in Vietnam, when fully operational, will be 2.4GW. This, in combination with Perrysburg and facilities in Kulim, Malaysia, will give First Solar a total Series 6 manufacturing capacity of approximately 5.4GW by 2020, and represents approximately $1.4 billion in capital investment.

New undermount frame for easier installation

In late November of 2016, as a response to the highly competitive and dynamic PV market environment and customer demand for higher efficiency modules, First Solar made a strategic decision to accelerate development and production of Series 6. The new product, still based on First Solar’s unique thin film CdTe PV technology, increases physical dimensions and performance characteristics while adding an under-mount frame that allows for simple, high-velocity installation of the product in the field. With superior temperature coefficient, spectral response and shading behavior, Series 6 modules will generate significantly more energy than conventional crystalline silicon modules, First Solar claims.

Widmar said First Solar will continue to maintain some Series 4 production at the Kulim plant as long as economic global demand calls for the product. (HCN)