VATIS UPDATE Article

The Solar Energy Research Institute of Singapore (SERIS) at the National University of Singapore (NUS) has developed the world’s first full-size Interdigitated Back Contact (IBC) bifacial solar module using ZEBRA solar cells from the International Solar Energy Research Center (ISC) Konstanz. With high-efficiency IBC silicon solar cells of 6 inches in width, the 60-cell bifacial module is capable of pro-ducing up to 400 Watts of electric power, a much higher power compared to conventional modules with power output in the range of 270 to 290 Watts.

The module technology’s first prototype was produced using bifacial ZEBRA IBC solar cells from ISC Konstanz with efficiencies as high as 22%. The cells were fabricated using industrially proven process equipment and standard industrial 6-inch n-type Cz monocrystalline silicon wafers. The module’s structural reliability is ensured by using a double-glass insulation technique perfected by SERIS since 2009. Encapsulated using the double-glass structure, IBC bifacial solar modules could offer a longer warranty period of 30 years or more.

Furthermore, by utilising the bifacial nature of the solar cells, as much as 30% extra power is gener-ated by the double-glass module due to reflection of sunlight from the ground (‘albedo’) to-wards the module’s rear surface.