21 February 2011

Q-Cells’ CIGS PV modules outperform competitors at Australian desert test site

Q-Cells SE of Bitterfeld-Wolfen, Germany says that its copper indium gallium diselenide (CIGS) thin-film solar module Q.SMART and prototype polysilicon solar modules Q.PRO and Q.BASE have achieved peak performance under extreme climate conditions at a test field in Alice Springs in Central Australia run by the independent, Australian government-financed Desert Knowledge Australia Solar Centre (DKASC). Due to the dry desert climate, the test conditions are among the most demanding worldwide.

At the test field, the performances of more than a dozen leading European, Asian and American manufacturers are tested under identical conditions. Q-Cells is the only German firm represented with its modules in the Australian desert.

During the six-month period from August 2010 to January 2011, the power output of the Q.SMART module was measured at the test field, along with several similarly sized thin-film systems. The firm says that its module emerged as one of the leading performers during the test period, with an average energy yield of 5.8 kilowatt-hours per installed kilowatt-peak per day (kWh/kWp/day), compared with averages of 5.1–5.3kWh/kWp/day for systems from leading international manufacturers with a similar system configuration.

Q-Cells claims that, due to cost-effective production and high efficiency, its CIGS modules have excellent performance under various geographic conditions and, due to their appealing aesthetics, are suited to architecturally demanding applications. The firm produced its first Q.SMART module as early as June 2010, achieving what was claimed to be record efficiency of 13%.

Tags: Q-Cells CIGS module

Visit: www.dkasolarcentre.com.au

Visit: www.q-cells.com

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