Chinese-Canadian solar manufacturing giant Canadian Solar have unveiled a new “super-high power” range of 500W+ solar panels, ensuring the company remains relevant and competitive with its peers, many of which have similarly released 500W+ ranges in recent months.
The move comes in the wake of many of its big-name competitors launching their own new 500-watt-plus solar panels, including Risen Energy, Trina Solar, JA Solarl, and JinkoSolar.
Canadian Solar’s new range of “super-high power Series 5 and Series 6 PV modules” were announced on July 1 to celebrate Canada Day, and will join the company’s existing HiKu, BiHiKu, and HiDM portfolios, “expanding the range of high-power, high-efficiency monofacial and bifacial solar modules.”
“These new products incorporate Canadian Solar’s proprietary and record-breaking cell technology, as well as the latest cutting-edge module designs, reflecting Canadian Solar’s commitment to excellence, research and development of competitive and clean solar solutions,” the company said in a press release.
Canadian Solar will expand all three of its Series 5 portfolios – the HiKu5, BiHiKu5, and HiDM5. While the HiDM5 will now only be available in power classes of up to 405W – offering a 37% higher rooftop system capacity and 47% higher IRR from lowsystem costs – both the HiKu5 and BiHiKu5 will offer power classes of up to 500W available in both monocrystalline and polycrystalline cells.
The company touted the fact that the light- and elevated temperature-induced degradation (LeTID) of its HiKu5 is 50% below the industry standard and that a combination of improved module efficiency, high power classes, and leading PV module technology can lower the Levelised Cost of Electricity (LCoE) by up to 4%.
Similarly, both its Series 6 portfolios – the HiKu6 and BiHiKu6 – will now offer “super-high power classes” of up to 590W and module efficiency of up to 21.3% and, relative to standard 405W monocrystalline modules, the HiKu6 range of modules generate up to 2.7% higher energy yield over the lifetime of the module, reduce the Balance of System (BoS) cost by up to 5.6%, and reduce the LCoE by up to 4.5%.
“Since I founded the Company in Canada 19 years ago, I am proud that Canadian Solar has become a leader in the development and deployment of the latest solar technologies,” said Dr. Shawn Qu, Founder, Chairman and CEO of Canadian Solar. “As reflected in today’s announcement, our commitment is to develop leading technology that will deliver more solar energy more cost-effectively.
“Our HiKu, BiHiKu and HiDM product ranges have always been at the forefront of PV module technology, and the launch of the new Series 5 and Series 6 modules is another important achievement as we continue to provide powerful, efficient and high-quality solar solutions.”
