Half-cut solar cells are rectangular silicon solar cells with about half the area of a traditional square solar cell, which are wired together to make a solar module (aka panel).
Half-cut solar cell technology increases the energy output of solar panels by reducing the size of the cells, so more can fit on the panel. The panel is then split in half so the top operates independently of the bottom, which means more energy is created - even if one half is shaded. That's the general overview - below, we break the process down.
Why should you use half cut cell modules?
Start Saving On Energy Bills Now! There are several advantages to using Half Cut Cell Modules: Higher Efficiency: Half cut cell modules reduce power loss caused by partial shading because they are divided into two independent halves, allowing one part of the panel to continue generating power even when the other part is shaded.
A half-cut solar cell panel allocates twice the cells in the same area of a regular module. This means two times the arrays of solar cells within one module, with half-cut solar cells having half the width, keeping the area of the panel the same. Generally, modules with 60 solar cells include three substrings of 20 cells in series.
Half-cut modules comprise solar cells of dimensions 156mm x 78mm, which are essentially two equal halves of the 156mm full-size cells. Consequently, a regular 60-cell module transforms into a 120 half-cut cell module. The smaller cells are symmetrically arranged and interconnected by thin strips of conducting ribbon.
Let's dig deeper into how half-cut cell PV modules work, why their design improves the performance of standard solar panels, which manufacturers use them, and the potential future of the technology. Half-cut solar cells perform better than traditional solar panels due to the higher number of cells and upgraded series wiring within the panel.
Ever since REC Solar pioneered half-cut cell technology, many solar companies have followed suit. Some of the more well-known manufacturers are Panasonic, Trina Solar, Q CELLS, Jinko Solar, and LONGi Solar panels.