The company’s new ASTRO N7 Pro PV modules achieve a 2% higher cumulative energy yield over the project life cycle compared to previous generation conventional modules, said Astronergy Head of Global Product Management Baohua He.
Why has Astronergy switched to a quarter-cut cell design for its new ASTRO N7 Pro PV modules?
Baohua He: Against the backdrop of the photovoltaic industry’s continued drive for increased power and LCOE, multi-cut technology is an important avenue to improve module performance. By subdividing the circuit into shorter and more independent branches, quarter-cut cell technology reduces resistance losses while limiting the impact of partial shading to a minimum range.
With quarter-cut cell technology, we are able to significantly increase module power to 670 W and efficiency to 24.8%, while maintaining electrical compatibility with previous generations. This means customers do not need to replace existing inverters or redesign their string layouts, minimizing the additional costs when upgrading the system.
What other benefits does Astronergy’s TOPCon 5.0+ technology bring to the new modules?
Baohua He: Precise process optimizations such as Astronergy Surface Passivation (ASP), Polyfinger technology and Super Narrow Opening Print (SNOP) significantly reduce metal contact recombination and improve the open-circuit voltage and cell fill factor, achieving cell conversion efficiency of up to 24.8%. Furthermore, ASTRO N7 Pro modules take advantage of the structural advantages of TOPCon cells and exhibit significant advantages in power generation under low-light conditions such as dawn and dusk, effectively extending daily productive hours. Furthermore, ASTRO N7 Pro features a high bifaciality rate of 85% (±5%), with a rear power gain of up to 1-3%. This allows the back to capture more reflected light, especially on snow-covered, sandy and other highly reflective ground surfaces.
In addition to the advancements in cell technology and quarter-cut design, ASTRO N7 Pro has optimized and innovated the module layout. It uses the industry’s first voltage-free, gapless flexible interconnect design, achieving high-density encapsulation and increasing the total active solar area by 0.81%. This maximizes the use of incidental sunlight, improving module efficiency and power density.
Image: Astronergy
How do these developments benefit utility and C&I solar projects and in turn improve their ROI?
Baohua He: Firstly, ASTRO N7 Pro’s maximum power of 670W and maximum efficiency of 24.8% help reduce costs for mounting structures, cables and installation, thus reducing system costs per watt. Second, the lower annual degradation rate of 0.35%, higher bifaciality, better temperature coefficient of -0.26%/℃ and superior low-light performance result in approximately 2% higher cumulative energy yield over the project life cycle compared to previous generation conventional modules. In addition, ASTRO N7 Pro provides stronger resilience in harsh environments such as high temperatures, high humidity, wind-blown sand and salt spray, ensuring long-term stable operation and reducing the investment risks associated with substandard performance.
What are the biggest reliability challenges for solar products in large-scale and C&I projects?
Baohua He: Prolonged exposure to outdoor air, frequent thermal cycling, continuous UV radiation and physical damage from extreme weather all affect the reliability of PV modules.
To address these issues, ASTRO N7 Pro features several systematic innovations that ensure stable power generation and support a 30-year linear power warranty with a final power retention of up to 88.85%. Optimized cell passivation and improved encapsulation materials significantly improve PID and UVID resistance, ensuring long-term durability. Higher conversion efficiency means lower operating temperatures, which further slows down material aging.
The quartz cut circuit design reduces shadow losses and lowers peak hotspot temperatures by more than 30℃, improving safety and adaptability. In addition, the reinforced frame offers a higher mechanical load capacity to withstand extreme weather conditions.
The questions and answers in this sponsored interview article come from Astronergy.
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