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Hanergy Holding Group, China's largest thin-film solar cell manufacturer, participated in the 16+1 Energy Fair and Conference from November 8th to 10th, a gathering of high level officials and innovators operating in the energy field from Central and Eastern Europe and China.
Nur Bekri, vice chairman of China's National Development and Reform Commission, and administrator of the National Energy Administration of China visited the Hanergy exhibition booth. Senior vice president of Hanergy Holding Group, Meng Yi, and senior vice president of Hanergy Thin Film Power, Ding Jian, introduced the company's thin-film solar power products, including its unmanned aerial vehicle (UAV), the company's new Hantile solution, foldable solar chargers and its solar charger backpack. Mr. Nur Bekri praised Hantile for its beautiful design and practical features, expressing confidence that foldable solar chargers and UAVs have huge market potential.
At the 16+1 Energy Fair, Hanergy exhibited its self-developed 3.3 meter fixed UAV, which is powered by Gallium Arsenide (GaAs) thin film solar cells developed by Hanergy's U.S. subsidiary Alta Devices. As certified by the National Renewable Energy Laboratory (NREL), a laboratory under the U.S. Department of Energy, Alta's thin-film solar technology holds three world records for GaAs conversion efficiency, including single-junction solar cells and dual-junction solar cells, which achieved conversion rates under lab conditions of 28.8% and 31.6%, respectively, and its mass produced modules which achieved 24.8% conversion efficiency. Since 2015, Alta Devices have been providing core solar panels and components for several well-known global enterprises for their UAV products flying in high altitude with long endurance.
Alta Devices previously worked together with Slovenian aerospace solutions provider C-Astral on its next-generation unmanned aerial vehicle (UAV), which uses Alta Devices' record breaking solar technology -- the thinnest, lightest, most efficient single and dual junction thin-film solar cells in the world. Using Alta Devices' cells, the UAV extended its flight time by two hours, while adding less than two ounces of weight. Extremely light and flexible, the GaAs thin-film cells were easily integrated into the UAV without altering its aerodynamic profile.
Hanergy also exhibited its newly launched Hantile solution, a product combining highly efficient solar panels with traditional roof tiles. The flexible thin-film cells integrated into the Hantile boast industry leading conversion efficiency of 17.5%, a rate that is expected to increase further in the future. These highly efficient roof tiles are key to making buildings and homes more eco-friendly -- the quantity of emissions abated by every piece of Hantile is equal to that of one tree, or about 5 to 10 kilograms of carbon. Hanergy expects this product to make significant contributions to China's green development as it achieves wider market acceptance.
Hantile is currently available in three models: curved, flat and "upturned C" styles, which are adaptable to the aesthetic and individualized needs of a wide range of buildings. In addition to integrating thin-film solar cells for power generation, Hantile also contains features tiles of consistent color and design, in order to achieve consistent roofing.
Hanergy's portable thin-film solar products include solar charger panels, foldable solar chargers, solar charger backpacks, solar power boxes, energy-storing lamps, and small-sized off-grid power generation systems. With the popularization of portable electronic equipment such as mobile Internet devices and smart phones, there is a huge market demand for mobile power solutions in the fields of mobile communications, outdoor sports, tourism, photography, professional expeditions, field work and emergency rescue. Hanergy's portable thin-film solar products feature robust performance, stable power generation and attractive design, providing users with the best mobile power experience.
In addition to the products exhibited at the fair, Hanergy's technology has been applied extensively to the transportation field. This year, Hanergy is working with German car manufacturer Audi to integrate solar cells into panoramic glass automobile roofs. Hanergy is also cooperating with major bike sharing companies, including Mobike, 99 Bicycle and MTBikie, to integrate thin film solar panels into the bodies of over 15 million bicycles over the next three years.
The 16+1 Energy Fair and Conference in Bucharest is a direct result of the 5th China-Central and Eastern Europe International Leaders Conference that was held in Latvia on November 5, 2016 and attended by Chinese Premier Li Keqiang. Together, participants drafted and released the China-Central and Eastern Europe Riga Cooperation Outline, which called for holding the First Annual 16+1 Energy Fair and Conference in Bucharest in 2017.