17.4% HIT Photovoltaic Module with the World´s Highest-level Module Conversion Efficiency

SANYO Electric Co., Ltd. (SANYO) is pleased to announce the release of a new 220-watt HIT^® Photovoltaic Module, which is due to become available in Europe from December 2009. The new module features an energy conversion efficiency of 17.4%, which is achieved through improving the efficiency of SANYO’s proprietary HIT^®*1 Module technology from the previous module which had a maximum output of 215 watts.

*1 The Heterojunction with Intrinsic Thin-layer (HIT®) solar cell is a hybrid model with an amorphous silicon thin film over a crystalline silicon substrate.

SANYO’s proprietary HIT^® solar cells offer many advantages including a high efficiency, good temperature characteristics, and bifacial electrical generation. The complete range features a high energy conversion efficiency of 16% or more, providing substantial user benefits when compared to regular crystalline-type modules with conversion efficiencies between 12% and 14%. Based on this difference in performance, a much greater amount of electricity, about     45%^*2 or more, can be obtained on a yearly basis from the same installation area. The greatest benefits are for users in European countries where the Feed-in Tariff (FIT) subsidy system prevails, whereby the electricity generated by solar modules is purchased by electricity companies. These benefits mean that SANYO’s HIT^® solar modules are extremely popular with customers not only in Europe, but all around the world.

*2 Based on a SANYO simulation using modules installed in Munich, Germany, on a 30º angle facing south.

I. Outline
SANYO became the first company in the world to mass-produce amorphous silicon solar cells
back in 1980. In 1997, the company began mass production of its proprietary HIT® solar cells with
high energy conversion efficiency and high output. Since then, SANYO has led the industry with
its HIT® solar cells, offering the world’s highest-level cell conversion efficiency.
HIT® solar cells are based on SANYO’s proprietary technology for the creation of a hybrid
model with an amorphous silicon thin film over a crystalline silicon substrate. As a result, they
offer both high energy conversion efficiency and superior temperature characteristics, and are
highly valued in the industry. SANYO will continue to pursue this technology development with
the aim of achieving even higher efficiencies, reduced costs, and saving of resources.
A local sales company, SANYO Component Europe GmbH, was established in 2004, closely
followed by a module manufacturing plant, SANYO Hungary Kft., in 2005. Since then, SANYO
has been manufacturing and selling HIT® Photovoltaic Modules, and the current production output
of SANYO Hungary has grown to 165 megawatts.
The newly developed 17.4% HIT® Photovoltaic Modules, with SANYO’s highest conversion
efficiency and high electrical output, will first be launched in the European market.
II. Elemental Technologies for Higher Conversion Efficiency
(1) Greater cell efficiency: Better HIT® junction
The advantage of the HIT® solar cell construction lies in the deposition of a high quality a-Si
layer on the surface of a c-Si substrate, the energy generation layer.This reduces the recombination
loss caused by charged carriers, electrical particles. Now SANYO has succeeded in increasing the
quality of the HIT® junction through technology for the creation of higher quality a-Si film,
thereby reducing damage to the c-Si substrate surface.
(2) Greater cell efficiency: Optical and electrical improvements
In the solar cells, it is necessary to transmit the sunlight that hits the cell surface to the c-Si layer,
the energy generation layer, with as little energy loss as possible. Moreover, it is necessary to
collect the generated electricity with as little resistance loss as possible. Now, SANYO has
succeeded in reducing the optical absorption loss in the a-Si and transparent conductive layers,
thereby minimizing both the optical and electrical losses.
(3) Greater module efficiency: Anti-reflection glass
Through the new adoption of anti-reflection glass for the new modules, SANYO has reduced
light reflection and scattering.
III. Main Features
(1) World’s highest-level module energy conversion efficiency (17.4%)
Further efficiency improvement has been achieved for SANYO’s proprietary HIT® solar cells. As
a result, installations can now achieve higher output capacities within the limited installation space.
This offers advantages especially for users in European countries with a FIT system where the
electricity generated by solar modules is purchased by electricity companies.
(2) Superior temperature characteristics means higher annual electrical output
The new models will offer the same superior level of temperature characteristics as the current
HIT® solar cells. With conventional solar cells, electrical output declines along with the rise in
external temperature. Thanks to its superior temperature characteristics, HIT® solar cells do not
lose as much output even under high temperatures, providing a high output even in the hot
summer. As a result, a higher electrical output can be obtained.
(3) Improved effectiveness in the morning and evening when the sun is low
Anti-reflection glass helps to increase module energy conversion efficiency throughout the day.
During the morning and evening however, when the sun is low in the sky, more sunlight is
reflected off the surface of the glass. Therefore, the benefit of this glass is especially great at these times, helping to increase the overall electrical output of the module.
In a SANYO comparison of new and current models during the months of June and July, the
anti-reflection glass PV system provided about a 4% increase in output.

IV. Main Specifications

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2 Responses to “Sanyo Presents High-efficiency 220W HIT Photovoltaic Module to The European Marrket”

1. Hari Raghavan says:

   December 28, 2009 at 3:31 pm

   Dear sir,
   We’ll be installing a 25MW
   solar pv power plant in central India.We’d like to know about newly introduced hibrid model 220wp HIT will be useful in this part of the country.We’re about 100 acres of land for this purpose. How many 220 HIT panels we will need and the FOB price, time to supply the panels along with the details of solar inverters, warranty (25 years ?),certification and other details.Give us a most competitive price
   Warm regards.
   Hari Raghavan
2. amwayi samuel says:

   January 23, 2011 at 4:26 pm

   When is this HIT technology coming to Africa and especially Nairobi?