Sharp announces watt upgrade on three half-cell panels

The new NB-JD545 is the upgrade to the NB-JD540 and is a bifacial half-cut cell monocrystalline silicon photovoltaic (PV) panel, designed for commercial and utility scale free-field installations. It has a module efficiency of 21.1 per cent, a low-temperature coefficient of -0.349%/°C, and is equipped with 144 M10 wafer-sized half-cells.

The module is designed for a system voltage of up to 1,500 V and is printed with white reflectors in the gaps between the cells on the rear glass to increase light absorption on the front side. A high-performance encapsulation foil with a combination of EVA (ethylene vinyl acetate) and PEO (polyolefins) is used to prevent potential-induced degradation (PID) affecting the rear side of bifacial modules.

The NU-JD545, the upgrade to the NU-JD540, has a module efficiency of 21.1 per cent, a low-temperature coefficient of -0.341%/°C and is designed for a system voltage up to 1,500 V. Like the NU-JD545, it uses 144 M10 wafer-sized half-cells.

The NU-JC415, the upgrade to the NU-JC410, comes with 108 half-cells, an anodised silver frame, and a white backsheet, delivering an efficiency of 21.25 per cent and a low-temperature coefficient of -0.341%/°C.

The panel is equipped with the original MC4 connector, which makes it compatible with most mainstream optimisers, inverters, and mounting systems. The dimensions of the NU-JC415 are 1,722 x 1,134 mm and it weighs just 20.7 kg, thus meeting the requirements for easy residential and small-scale commercial and industrial (C&I) rooftop system installation. Furthermore, the panels are suitable for clamping on the short frame side.

In the EU Member States and various other countries, the NU-JC415 and the NU-JD545 are covered by Sharp’s 15-year product guarantee and 25-year performance guarantee, promising a minimum 85 per cent performance in year 25. This guarantee starts on delivery of the panel to the final customer.

All modules feature 10 busbar technology using round ribbons to increase the power gain from each cell and make them less sensitive to microcracks, thus improving module reliability.

The safety, quality, and durability of the panels have been recognised with IEC seals (IEC61215 and IEC61730). The modules have been rigorously tested for compliance with international standards and for endurance under extreme conditions, passing tests for ammonia, salt mist, sand, and PID resistance.