Posted by
Roy Gu on Tue, May 21, 2013 @ 03:31 AM
PID effect was firstly discovered and demonstrated in academic field, until recent years attention was actually paid by the users of photovoltaic panels. Modules with lower electrical-potential than ground (frame) is possible to suffer from PID, due to leakage current through the frame - the front glass (with Na+,Ca2+ mobile ions) - encapsulation material leading to accumulation of charge on the surface of the cells. Utilization of transformer in the PV system allowing grounding at the negative end of module string can essentially avoid the PID phenomenon.
Study on PID in Renesola was initiated in the earlier part of 2012. Basically, we found the pattern design of front electrode of solar cell has little influence on the anti-PID ability. The sequence of impact of solar cell production process on PID was judged as below according to our results:
SiNx coating > doping > electrode pattern design
Further, we promoted the PID-free ability at high temperature and high humidity conditions. Significant Pm lost may be found in the case of loose structure of SiNx and shallow p-n junction depth of solar cells, despite both of the two designs are favorable to achievement of high efficiency. Obviously, the high temperature and humidity largely accelerate the kinetics of charge transportation driven by the high voltage bias. As a result, encapsulation materials with high electrical resistance and stability at certain moisture concentration with a given moisture permeability of backsheet are necessary to guarantee the anti-PID ability of PV panels.
A wide range of EVA materials from different vendors were evaluated for their anti-PID behavior using the same optimized solar cells. We did find the diversity of Pm degradation after PID test at 60oC/85RH% or 85oC/85RH% conditions. Based on this, we have renewed our BOM, and only the EVA exhibit anti-PID characteristics were included.
To get to the aim of PID-free, a certain degree of solar cell and module efficiency is sacrificed. In addition, high-price and high quality EVA is used for encapsulation in mass production of Renesola panels.
What is it exactly that makes ReneSola one of a kind in the solar industry?
The key elements of ReneSola’s foundation as a solar manufacturer have been highlighted through an innovative video production created by Solar Home (www.solarhome.com).
The video features those elements that are setting ReneSola apart - product performance, reliability, warranty, financial strength, experience, and value within the global solar industry.
Check out the video posted below, and learn more about how ReneSola is standing out in the field.
ReneSola has recently opened a UK office that will provide direct support to UK customers, creating long-term solar partnerships. The company will now establish a reliable and long-term service network for the entire country.
Not all manufacturers have made this level of commitment to the UK, with many either serving the market from other bases in Europe, or operating small offices with skeleton teams. However Renesola believes its commitment and investment in the market will reap rewards and allow it to improve product availability while building long-term customer relationships.
ReneSola UK’s strategy is designed to promote a renewable energy community says Ian Glover, newly appointed general manager of the company.
“We are building a solid foundation for long-term development in the UK renewables community. Our support network will allow us to provide not only one of the best-in-class products but also the peace of mind that comes from dealing with a long-term partner. We expect this to appeal to local authorities, EPC contractors and investors, and our set-up should also make it easier for businesses to secure finance for projects faster. By developing close working relationships and understanding the needs of clients, we will support the long-term growth of the UK solar sector.”
Ian Glover joins ReneSola from aleo-solar, a German company, where he was responsible for its successful entry and development in the UK market. His extensive renewable energy experience covers all sectors of the UK Solar market including domestic, local government and large scale investor-led projects.
There are a number of interesting opportunities developing in the UK solar market, particularly in areas that offer both social and economic benefits.
“The current UK feed-in-tariff lends itself to a wide range of applications, from rooftop installations on social housing to large-scale investment projects,” says Mr Glover. “The correct use of solar investment can have a positive social impact that benefits entire communities, and is something we should be proud of and willing to promote further.”
The Renesola UK team is expected to grow to around 20 people very quickly and the company, based in Newhaven, is currently recruiting.
Posted by
Roy Gu on Sun, May 05, 2013 @ 10:53 PM
This manual is a detailed description for cleaning the anti-reflection coated glass (referred to as ARC-glass) of RENESOLA’s photovoltaic solar modules (referred to as module).
With the passage of time, dirt and dust may accumulate on the glass surface of the module, reducing the power output of the module. RENESOLA recommends regular cleaning of modules to ensure maximum power output, especially in low rainfall areas.
Detailed description:
Do not use bare fingers or hands without gloves to touch or handle the glass surface of modules. Wear clean gloves to prevent fingerprints and other dirt from staying on the glass. Fingerprints may not be able to be removed from the ARC-glass.
It is not allowed to use metal tools such as blades, knives, steel wool and other abrasive materials.
Soft foam materials, non-woven fabrics, whisks, soft sponges, soft brushes and hair brushes may be used.
Hair brush specification: Material of special wires for hair brush: nylon wire 1010; Required diameter of special wires for hair brushes for cleaning ARC-glass: 0.06-0.1 mm.
Pure water is suggested, while diluted alcohol may also be used.
Do not use abrasive powders, abrasive cleaners, scrubber cleaners, polishers, sodium hydroxide, benzene, nitro-thinners, acid or alkali and other chemical substances.
Do not use steam or corrosive chemicals to speed up the cleaning.
Do not try to clean broken glass or modules with broken lines or exposed wires, as it may cause electric shock.
1. Cleaning time
The module glass cleaning should be done in the early morning, in the evening, at night or on rainy/cloudy days. At the same time, when cleaning in the morning or evening, select right period to avoid sunshine strongly.
2. Schedule of cleaning cycle and region
For a large-scale photovoltaic station with large floor area and a large number of modules, the time appropriate for the cleaning operations is short each day; it is necessary to schedule the cleaning cycle and divide regions according to the specific circumstances of the electric field so as to complete the cleaning work of the photovoltaic station with less manpower.
The subregion division in the cleaning work should be carried out according to the electrical structure of the photovoltaic station, and should ensure that each of the cleaning work can cover all components connected to a number of combiner boxes or inverters.
3. Routine steps of cleaning
Step 1: Whisking Deposits such as dry floating dust and leaves on the module surface should be whisked off with a dry whisk or cloth. If there are no other deposits on the module surface, and the module has been cleaned in this step, the following steps may be dispensed with.
Step 2: Washing If there are colored substances such as bird droppings, plant juices, etc., on the module surface, or dust that cannot be whisked off due to high indoor humidity, the whole substances need to be removed by cleaning. The colored substances are generally removed with clean water by spraying the clean water onto the region with pollutants and scraping with a hair brush.
Oily substances, if any, may be removed by coating water blended with alcohol onto the colored region and scraping with hair brush after the solution penetrates through the pollutants. If necessary, the module may be cleaned with neutral glass cleaner, together with non-woven fabric.
4. Cleaning snow cover
RENESOLA modules are designed to be able to withstand high snow pressure. However, if you need to clear snow to improve output power, use a hair brush to gently remove the snow. But do not try to remove frozen snow or ice on the modules.
Solar supplier stability has slowly become a matter of growing interest in the industry. The solar energy supplier landscape is changing rapidly, especially in the US. A number of these suppliers are exiting the market, and those remaining are often times drastically reducing their production allocation to what they consider to be unattractive regions. New orders are not being accepted, and promised deliveries are constantly falling through the cracks. Due to such factors, the unthinkable has emerged in the past few months- after 5 years of consistent price declines, the average ASP in the US has been increasing.
Why is this all happening? Several mainstream news channels have been reporting that a process of module supply correction is currently underway. In the face of eroding margins, module suppliers are chasing higher ASP markets in places such as Japan and Australia. Meanwhile, the US market is being neglected, given that modules there bear higher productions costs due to non-Chinese cell requirements at an ASP that is still relatively depressed due to current market dynamics.
Perhaps most importantly, the impending potential European Union tariff on Chinese modules and cells is driving up the demand for cost-effective cells from Taiwan. If and when the tariff is determined to apply to Chinese cells like it does the US, Taiwanese cell supply may be outstripped by demand. The confluence of these factors are creating a perfect storm that is impacting the US module availability and pricing.
ReneSola is different. As one of the largest and lowest cost wafer and module manufacturers in the world, we have an excellent supply relationship with the top Taiwanese cell manufacturers. These clients of ours can drastically reduce their sales accounts’ receivable risk by working with ReneSola’s wafer supply and cell purchase tolling arrangement. We leverage this unique supply chain position in the market to work with the top few that provide us a unique competitive advantage.
Our valuable US clients need a steady module partner with a secure supply of modules at attractive price points. As a large diversified solar company with healthy financials, we are keeping our focus on building a long-term strategically diversified regional market share. We are committed to the US market and are continuing to expand our operational capabilities to support our clients’ growing businesses. We are happy to deliver More Power for Your Dollar with an excellent service through the current fluctuations in the market and beyond.
They weren’t kidding when they told you there was a recipe for success when it came to solar. So what is it exactly that can make or break a solar power project, and what significance does it really have? Also, where does ReneSola come into play when we look at the presence of such critical features? Well, there are five particular features of solar panels that can determine the successful outcome of any solar power project:
1) Temperature coefficients. This would be defined as a numerical value that indicates the relation between a change in temperature and a simultaneous change in some other relative property. The temperature coefficient of a panel would describe how much a certain property in it changes when the temperature increases or decreases by 1° Celsius, thus affecting overall performance of say, a solar panel on a rooftop. So where does ReneSola as a manufacturer stand in all of this? ReneSola products have low temperature coefficients, which means more power generation overall – especially in tropical regions. A TUV report has certified this efficiency as well, asserting that our low coefficient means more KWh per KWp, especially in higher temperature regions.
2) Potential induced degradation (PID). This would be defined as power degradation due to the lower potential of the inner circuit relative to the ground. Let’s face it, the word “degradation” itself is a scary one, as it indicates a less successful project than one would hope for. ReneSola’s certified PID-free by TUV, with a PID at 85° Celsius and 85% RH condition. All of Renesola’s modules are PID free, which has become an important factor for modules in the US residential and commercial market. This is due to transformer-less inverters’ growing popularity in the US.
3) Component quality. How could a panel reach its full power potential without the help of the best quality components on the market? ReneSola uses a fully integrated supply chain to build our high-quality panels with components from a diverse range of top suppliers and venders, such as STR and DuPont. Of course, it also helps having developed a partnership with a trusted industry service provider, SolarBuyer.
4) Thermal loss. This would be defined as energy of power transmitted out of a system in the form of heat. The performance of any solar power product is largely affected by thermal loss within its system. Black and Veatch’s validated field data regarding ReneSola’s 14.4MW multiple array project in Italy in 2011 reflects how ReneSola’s products are affected minimally by thermal loss. This project, generating more power than the competition, reflected a thermal loss significantly lower than that of the competition at -0.29% / °C.
5) Production efficiency. ReneSola is constantly increasing and improving wafer quality through advancing wafer technology, which is a considerably innovative approach given that most competitors in the field are focused on improving efficiencies instead on cell technology. ReneSola also provides higher average power modules. An example of the power we are talking about, you ask? In a 2012 photon competition test in Aachen, Germany, ReneSola scored 1st place out of 170 different modules from 100 different competitors. As has been understood well in the industry, ReneSola demonstrates the standard of low-cost, high-performance products for long-term success. More on our product performance capabilities? The California Energy Commission (CEC)has given ReneSola a PTC rating of 91%. Also, ReneSola’s long-standing commitment to research and development, not to mention one of the largest research and development expenditures in the industry for module efficiency innovation, has ensured success in terms of this particular feature.
Upon review of these five critical features, it can be concluded that there really is a recipe for success when it comes to achieving the greatest solar power efficiency possible – and ReneSola has clearly nailed it on the head.
Image courtesy of rail.co
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From 2009 to 2011 Suntech emulated success in the solar sector. The Chinese company doubled solar cell production to stand out among other industry leaders, meanwhile becoming one of the industry’s highest cost manufacturers. $564 million in convertible debt was reported due on March 15, 2013, although the company has enough debt aside from this sum that put them at a debt to equity ratio of nearly 500%.
As we watch the sun set on Suntech by means of subsequent bankruptcy, it is becoming clearer how rapidly the world’s solar industry is consolidating. It is expected that, of the 120+ Solar Manufacturers operating in the world today, perhaps a mere 20 to 30 of them will survive the currently ongoing worldwide industry consolidation. Analysts have predicted that the coming year will face the first major consolidation in not only China’s solar sector, but the industry on a global scale as well. Christopher Blansett, an analyst for JP Morgan Securities LLC, has expressed his own theory regarding the reasoning behind the evident consolidation: "Weaker companies who did not get their product costs down to competitive levels are going to disappear…they'll be bought up. They'll go away. There is significantly more supply of solar modules than demand."
While many ideas and arguments have circulated in regards to this issue, Blansett is not the only one standing by this theory of inadequate product costs and a lack of demand in comparison to production rates. Of course, before the industry can jumpstart the much needed recovery process, it appears necessary for other bankrupt solar companies in China to sell off capital or merely go out of business.
Despite this, some industry leaders have found a way continue moving forward with confidence, ReneSola being a key player. By capitalizing on proprietary technologies, economies of scale and low-cost production capabilities, ReneSola has continued to efficiently contribute to China's transformation from a manufacturing marketplace to a critical consumer hub for solar products. As for the apparent consolidation of the industry, it is difficult to truly determine which solar companies will prevail. However, one certainty that remains is that in a world that seems to be overflowing with this commodity product, ReneSola’s success in product differentiation, product quality, design development for improved efficiency, and low-cost manufacturing strategies are setting it apart from the rest.
Image courtesy of telegraph.co.uk.
Ever wonder how solar actually works? Here’s your answer!
The science is very complex, but the concept is simple. It’s a multifaceted system that makes the sun’s energy available through a building’s electrical infrastructure and it is our key to a greener future!
Solar power systems are complex structures that convert the sun’s energy into electrical power. Photovoltaic (PV) cells are the driving force behind the operation. They convert the sun’s energy into electricity. When sunlight hits the photovoltaic cell, it produces an electrical current. Photovoltaic cells are connected and held together in a solar module.
Solar panels are groups of solar modules (which contain the PV cells) and they are installed in open areas, like rooftops or fields, to receive sun exposure. When sunlight falls onto these panels, direct current electricity (DC) is instantly created. That electricity then passes through a wire channel leading to an inverter which transforms it into alternating current electricity (AC), which is the form of electricity we ordinarily use. Now the electricity can be used to power your lights, appliances, air-conditioning, computers and other electrical devices!
Not too perplexing, right?
Solar energy is the way of the future. We want to reduce our dependence on costly fossil fuels; therefore we are shifting to a highly reliable, long-term, and fixed price electricity supply. ReneSola is unequivocally delighted to be a part of this environmentally beneficial modification of energy.
We look forward to a brighter future!
This blog entry is endorsed by ReneSola America and was written and published by Natalie Koudsi, Marketing Coordinator.
Graphics courtesy of www.grinningplanet.com.
Investors have been scrutinizing solar module firms that simply cannot produce cost-saving products for their eager customers. Bigger businesses have recently been grappling with countless issues in quality, supply, and cost, allowing companies like ReneSola, their nimble counterpart, to take that market share!
Since the contemporary rapid growth of the solar business, several large companies in the industry have operated with particularly high margins. Prior to the flowering of solar, inventory could not keep up with demand. Now a superfluous supply has left these companies unable to establish the appropriate infrastructure.
Along with the anti-dumping tariff, a tax that our government imposes on foreign imports that it believes are priced unfairly, these huge corporations are shaking in their boots! As a result, they are abandoning their vertically integrated business models for Contract Manufacturers all over the world-avoiding those cumbersome tariffs.
Since these “bankable” companies have been shying away from cost-productive business models, the buzzword “bankability” is gradually losing its acclaim.
Dave Buemi a solar energy advocate takes us through some inconsistencies in bankable solar modules:
- “Tier 1 crystalline module suppliers from China with less than a 7-year business history, and who have weak balance sheets, are considered highly bankable.
- Manufacturer defect warranties, on average, cover 5 years and yet the product is considered low risk on a 20 year output basis. What happens in the unlikely event that all modules have a defect that shows up in year 8?
- First Solar product is considered low risk mostly because of the herd mentality – Bank X has financed it, so it must be safe. Like all PV companies, long 20 year brand performance history has not been proven.
- New c-Si cell product coming on the market is considered immediately bankable, yet they have new cell structure, coatings, and manufacturing processes.”
These standards appear rather obsolete and fundamentally defective.
At ReneSola, we produce quality modules in our own facilities and therefore can offer our goods at a fair price. We are continually coming up with ways to cut costs for our customers through easier and faster installation.
We prove our “bankability” through our satisfied customers, rather than trivial jargon and criteria. We are focused on cutting costs in wiring, installation labor, and smart modules like our micro-inverter .
ReneSola continues to offer immeasurable benefits to it’s customers through vertigal integration. We have better control of our supply, and the ability to cut costs the honorable way.
Dave Buemi. "Solar Energy Bankability | Blog: The Photovoltaics Solar Energy Advocate."Blog The Photovoltaics Solar Energy Advocate RSS. N.p., n.
This blog entry is endorsed by ReneSola America and was written and published by Natalie Koudsi, Marketing Coordinator.
Theoretically, Tier One solar panel companies are the largest and most technically-capable enterprises in the business. If this were true, a purchaser could mitigate risks by simply attaining a company’s tier classification. Unfortunately, Tier 1 status does not truly correlate with quality. The dynamism of the Solar Industry Market and the qualifications required for Tier 1 status make these classifications a thing of the past.
Since the industry is growing rapidly, the way we measure efficiency is capricious. The top manufacturers one day, soon become contentious organizations the next, failing to meet requirements, attempting to resolve large recalls, and essentially going bankrupt.
Tier status once proved a company “bankable” (meaning the manufacturers would be financed by non-development banks). These modules therefore must have met high quality standards—this, however, is no longer the case.
Now, top tier organizations can earn their position by having the highest revenue, the most employees, or the biggest market share. Market research and analysis simply can’t judge efficiency the way we’d like it to.
So, what’s a purchaser to do?
As a client you want to trust that your project is in good hands. Moving away from tier status does not leave you without tools to measure quality and risks. Factory auditing and field inspections are appropriate, and perhaps the safest route. ReneSola has always encouraged third party testing of our solar products, eliciting unwavering confidence in clients regarding quality and efficiency.
You want to determine where a module was manufactured, how it was manufactured, and whether or not the materials have been certified. Hands-on involvement is crucial. At ReneSola, we have an open door policy and invite customers to all of our manufacturing facilities—allowing you to see, firsthand, where your module is coming from and under what conditions it’s being produced.
Ultimately, financial stability isn’t determined by an arbitrary title, but by actions. ReneSola pays close attention to components such as who it gives credit terms to and the company operates on very strict environmental and waste prevention measurements —resulting in lower all-in costs. This means better prices for our customers. While it takes more effort, being proactive and involved in your purchase will help you avoid poor acquisitions and duplicitous marketing “correlations”.
This blog entry is endorsed by ReneSola America and was written and published by Natalie Koudsi, Marketing Coordinator.