Trina Solar, along with a consortium of companies in the solar industry, recently announced a joint proposal for the standardization of 210mm silicon wafers and modules.

Silicon wafers have incrementally grown in size from 125mm up to today’s 210mm. This expansion has brought increased module power while reducing the costs of both production and power generation.

Adopting 210mm as the standard size for silicon wafers benefits both upstream and downstream businesses, providing more potential opportunities. This standardization will allow the solar industry to achieve the best possible scale by improving production efficiency, optimizing supply and driving more technological innovation. 

In addition, the standardization will reduce the initial investment required for manufacturing and photovoltaic systems. This will help lower the cost of PV power generation to eventually achieve grid parity. 

For these reasons and more, Trina Solar, jointly with other solar manufacturers, proposed the following sizes and layouts become the standard for the 210mm modules moving forward.

A selection of 210mm, +/- 0.25mm, for the standard size of silicon wafers in the 210-220mm size range, with a diameter of 295mm or 285mm, under the SEMI Photovoltaic Standards. Two specified module sizes have also been included, with one featuring 120 half-cut cells and the other with 132 half-cut cells. This change will necessitate a revision to the existing module size standards of SEMI. 

Additionally, the joint consortium calls on the promotion of these standard sizes of silicon wafers and modules. 

Due to their high power and low voltage design, the 210mm ultra-high power modules have big potential to further decrease Balance of System (BOS) costs and the Levelized Cost of Electricity (LCOE) for new PV projects.  

Putting concerns to rest

Despite the many benefits of the 210mm solar wafer, some have voiced a concern relating to the high working temperature of these high-power modules.

However, engineers at Trina’s test field, located at the State Key Laboratory of Photovoltaic Science and Technology, have conducted comprehensive research and outdoor testing. The team found that the working temperature of 210mm and 182mm modules are nearly the same, with no risk of rising operating temperatures. This is great news for this exciting technology. 

Want to learn more about why standardization of 210mm wafers benefits the solar industry? Reach out