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Panasonic Corporation announced that it has achieved the world's leading output temperature coefficient1 for mass-produced silicon photovoltaic modules, at -0.258%/°C2. This record-breaking innovation sets a new standard for the solar industry, improving on the previous temperature coefficient by 0.032 points at the mass production level, highlighting the positive temperature characteristics of heterojunction solar cells and further improving Panasonic's unique heterojunction technology3.
Output temperature coefficient is a vital metric in evaluating solar modules as a measurement of how quickly their conversion efficiency degrades as the temperature rises, thereby reducing the output. The standard silicon solar cell's output temperature coefficient is -0.50%4, which denotes a decline of 0.50% in the conversion efficiency as the module temperature rises by 1°C. For instance, at the module temperature anticipated in the summer months (75°C), the conversion efficiency will decrease by 25% in comparison to the environment at 25°C. Panasonic HIT® modules, which boast an improved output temperature coefficient, will nearly halve the decline in the conversion efficiency, significantly increasing performance in high temperature settings.
"This latest innovation, combined with our efforts in conversion efficiency, are living examples of Panasonic's relentless drive to provide customers with the very best in residential solar technology," said Mukesh Sethi, Group Manager, Solar Division, Panasonic Eco-Solutions North America. "The Panasonic HIT® is proven to offer the very best value to consumers in the residential solar market, and this latest development will be a massive help in locations where extreme heat is a factor for consumers."
The combination of the high conversion efficiency with the new temperature characteristics, will increase the conversion efficiency at 75°C by 46%5 in comparison to standard silicon products. When most solar panels are struggling with the increased temperatures during the summer months, Panasonic HIT® modules reliably generate power and limit efficiency losses in the heat. Not only that, Panasonic modules come with a 25 year warranty vs the industry standard of 10 year warranty, and guarantees output of 90.76% at the end of the 25th year, which in itself is industry's best performance guarantee coming from a 100-year-old world leading electronics company.
Panasonic will continue to work on technology development and mass commercialization with the aim of achieving higher power generation, and improvements in efficiency and reliability. HIT® is a registered trademark of the Panasonic Group.