144 Half-cut Mono 550watt Solar Panel With Best Price ...

144 Half-cut Mono 550watt Solar Panel With Best Price

Are you keen to discover more about the 144 half cut cells supplier? Reach out to us today for an expert consultation!

This 144 cells monocrystalline solar panel boasts a rated power of up to 550 watts, a conversion efficiency of up to 21.18%, and a 30-year product and performance warranty. Ideal for residential and commercial rooftop systems, it is also suitable for ground-mounted setups and compatible with both on-grid and off-grid inverters.

JC(520-550)-144M Solar Panel Features

• 1/2-Cut Technology to achieve higher power while minimizing hotspot issues.
• EL tested solar modules; Minimizes micro-cracks; PERC Solar Cells; Low power loss in cell connection; Better shading tolerance.
• Withstands heavy snow load up to 5400 pa, wind load up to 3600 pa; Corrosion-resistant aluminum frame for prolonged outdoor use.
• Anti-reflective, high transparency, low iron tempered glass with enhanced stiffness and impact resistance.
• IP68 rated junction box offers complete protection against environmental particles and low-pressure water jets.

Strength in numbers: How half-cut solar cells conquer the market

Things were simpler on the solar market 7-8 years ago: most panels used to have either 60 or 72 cells and that’s about it. Today the number of cells has doubled, but not the size of modules. The secret behind it is half-cut solar cell technology. Let us explain in detail what it is and why half-cell solar panels have become so popular.

REC introduced half-cut cell technology in 2014

Half-cut cell technology was introduced by Norwegian brand REC in 2014. The European company called their new panel line Twinpeak. The first model was polycrystalline, but the new design made it powerful enough to compete with naturally more efficient monocrystalline panels.

Since then the technology has been adopted by other manufacturers: Trina Solar, Panasonic, Q CELLS, Certainteed, Mission Solar all use half-cut cells. Experts from INRPV (International Technology Roadmap for Photovoltaic) expect the share of half-cell solar panels to increase even further: from around 20% in 2020 to more than 60% in 2030.

The engineers build upon their success with half-cut cells and test how far they can go using the same idea. Trina Solar started making large 210mm square cells that are split into three pieces. This format is used for high-output panels that reach 600W in power. Some study the possibilities of splitting cells in four, five, six sections, but so far these projects haven’t turned into the market product.

Half-cut cell panel is like two small ones wired together

To make a half-cut cell solar panel, engineers split a standard solar cell in two smaller ones with a laser. It's tricky because a solar cell is fragile by itself and it’s often paired with Passivated Emitter Rear Cell technology. PERC makes a cell more efficient but more complex as well. What we get in the end are 120-cell and 144-cell panels that are the same size as traditional 60 and 72-cell ones.

Since cells are smaller, the space between them doesn’t have to be as wide. It gives room for engineers to split the whole module into two smaller ones, just like REC did with Twinpeak. You can think of a split cell panel as two modules encased together and wired in parallel. But what are the benefits of splitting the cells and the panel in two?

Get 3-4% more energy than with full-cell modules

When engineers cut solar cells in half, the current is also divided by two. The resistance decreases and resistive losses fall, resulting in more electricity produced. Higher output per square foot means that panels with half-cut cell design can achieve higher wattage. This makes half-cut cell solar panels a great choice for mobile solar installations, such as RV or boat systems, where space is typically limited.

Half-cell panels last longer and become less fragile

Making cells smaller increases their durability. Therefore, the half-cut cell panel is less susceptible to microcracks compared to the original design. It is also better protected against hot spots. As a result, a split cell solar panel is more likely to outlast a traditional one, and energy losses caused by cracks will be lower.

Half-cut cell technology is more resistant to shading

Panels of a standard design usually have three bypass diodes that split the module into three strings. When one solar cell is shaded, the performance of the entire string drops because the cells are connected in series.

Half-cut cell design means that there are two independent halves in one panel, resulting in six strings instead of three. Consider two 330W panels, one with 60 cells and the other with 120 cells. A single shaded cell would reduce the performance of the first panel by up to 110W, while for the second panel, the performance would only drop by a maximum of 55W.

Splitting cells comes at a cost

The advantages of split cell design are substantial, but what about the downsides? These panels tend to be more expensive than traditional ones due to higher manufacturing costs.

• Splitting solar cells with a laser is a delicate process requiring precise and quality equipment plus skilled employees to perform the task well.
• To make both sides of the solar panels independent, manufacturers produce smaller and multiple junction boxes, subsequently increasing costs.
• More busbars are added for better cell connection, necessitating precise equipment since the cells themselves are much smaller. Some manufacturers have replaced ribbons with wires as ribbon busbars slightly shade a cell. Trina Solar is a pioneer in multi-busbar technology.

Aside from the higher price, compatibility with microinverters can also be an issue, so you should check this detail before purchasing. Older microinverters were designed to work with 60 or 72-cell panels, and not all are compatible with half-cut cell modules. Modern models, like Enphase IQ8, work well with half-cut cell panels.

Want more information on a customized size manufacturer? Feel free to contact us.