World’s Largest Solar Panels

Applied
Materials has announced that the 5.7m2 solar photovoltaic (PV)
modules produced by its SunFab Thin Film Line, using
both single and more advanced tandem junction technologies, were awarded
International Electrotechnical Commission (IEC)
certification, validating their performance under extended outdoor exposure.
Certification of these SunFab modules, which are the
world's largest available solar PV panels, unleashes an opportunity for the
widespread incorporation of SunFab panels in
utility-scale, thin film solar farms to further drive down the price of clean
electricity.

“We
expect 5.7m2 modules to become the standard for utility-scale PV
power,” said Dr.
Randhir
Thakur,
senior vice president and general manager of Applied Materials' Display and
SunFab Solar Business Group. “Applying SunFab technology to ultra-large modules creates an
unprecedented opportunity to reduce both manufacturing and installation costs,
transforming solar PV into a long-term solution to provide the world with
affordable energy from a renewable source.”

Certification
was awarded by TÜV InterCert, confirming that the
SunFab modules meet IEC standards 61646 and 61730.
“Applied's 5.7m2 modules are four times
bigger than anything we've ever tested,” said Mr. Sergizzarea, president and CEO of
TÜV InterCert. “We made modifications to the
laboratory and added equipment to enable us to test modules this large. Creating
a PV product of this size that can pass all of the IEC tests while maintaining
mechanical and electrical integrity is an impressive feat of engineering.”

The
quarter-sized 1.4m2 modules produced on the Applied SunFab Thin Film Line received IEC certification earlier
this year. However, a full-size 5.7m2 panel designed to maintain high
power output while subjected to years of exposure to sunlight, extreme
temperatures, wind and precipitation was a new challenge. Applied's technology and engineering expertise in flat-panel
display and architectural glass systems enabled it to deliver the critical
uniform conversion properties required across large areas. An innovative,
integrated bonded rail support structure strengthens the module, allowing it to
withstand wind and seismic loads while enabling the reduction of installation
costs by greatly simplifying the mounting structure.