Chinese solar solutions provider Trina Solar has supplied Osaka Sangyo University, Japan, with its newly developed Interdigitated Back Contact cells and modules for the construction of “OSU-Model-S”, an experimental solar car.
The 100 percent solar-powered car will take part in the IFA Suzuka Solar Car Race, the biggest such international event in Japan, in August.
It uses 565 IBCs of Trina Solar to generate the power required for operation. The IBCs have achieved efficiency of 24.4 percent in laboratory tests and 23.1 percent in pilot industrial production, according to a statement.
OSU-Model-S has already been tested in Shirahama Old Airport, Wakayama Prefecture, Japan.
Prof Hisakazu Fujita of the university said: “We believe Trina Solar’s IBCs, a technology similar to the one used in Solar Impulse-2, will put us ahead of the competition in IFA Suzuka. We look to build on our 3 consecutive championships since 2012.”
Earlier this month, Trina Solar received the Innovation Award for its Duo-Max module, a 72-cell frameless dual glass module (PEG14 series) at the Mexico International Renewable Energy Conference (MIREC).
The company had reported that Duo-Max has two sheets of heat-strengthened glass and a special edge seal to create a PID and micro-crack resistant panel.
The panel is certified against sand, salt, mist, ammonia, alkali and hail. The glass-on-glass design makes Duo-Max ideal for systems in humid and hot regions, the company stated.
Ajith Kumar S
editor@greentechlead.com