Unique off-grid solar project debuts Sunport flexible modules

Chinese solar manufacturer and research and development company Sunport Power announced this week that it had installed the first Japanese off-grid solar PV project equipped with the company’s metal wrap through (MWT) technology, which decreases shading area and is expected to boast greater solar efficiency.

Founded in 2012, Sunport Power has been working to commercialise its MWT solar technology, which according to the company is an “advanced back contact technology to increase solar cell and module efficiency by eliminating the busbar on the front side, and deploy both positive and negative electrodes on the rear side.”

Compatible with most cell types including TOPCON, PERC, HIT, and others, MWT reduces the shaded area by 3% as it does away with the busbars and welding strip on the front side of the panels.

Attached special organic flexible polymer materials serve as the encapsulation base and with specifically designed 2D encapsulation technology, panel thickness and weight is reduced, measuring in at only 1.4mm and 1.3 kg per unit. As a result, MWT solar panels are significantly lighter and more flexible.

Additionally, because of the lack of welding strips, Sunport Power’s MWT S1 panels completely eliminate the use of heavy metals including lead during production, making them more environmentally friendly than competing solar technologies.

The off-grid project in question is an unspecified rooftop solar PV project in Japan which, according to Sunport Power, had unique installation requirements.

“We realized a completely customized project in the process from the preliminary product design to later onsite installation,” said Dr. Shiliang Wu, Technical General Manager of Sunport Power.

“The factory’s colored steel tile roof with big gap and low-load bearing, due to the unconventional project requirements, we established a special R&D team right away and provided the customer a scheme with mature products and design in short time which proved a successful plan in following procedure.

“To fulfill the actual installation conditions such as low-load bearing of the roof and big gap resulted less mount points, we decided to use S1, a small-sized light and flexible PV panel, with back glue application which made the installation easier and cost saving.”

“We have established a very good partnership with Sunport Power,” said a Mr. Maruyama, the general manager of the rooftop solar park, according to Sunport Power’s press release, and thus likely identifying him as Tomohiro Maruyama as Project Finance Manager at the Japan Renewable Energy Corporation.

“They showed impressive working efficiency in the whole process from receiving our request to final installation. They also did great job in the panel production and delivery, especially in the difficult pandemic time of last year. We are very satisfied with their products and service.”

“Differentiation is the foundation for the development of Sunport Power,” added Dr. Fengming, Zhang, founder and president of Sunport Power.

“Since the establishment, Sunport Power is devoted into research and development of differentiated technology, the MWT technology, to promote industry change with technology, and insist on providing ‘exclusive’ products and service for our customers.”