WINAICO, Taiwan’s largest PV module brand, combines two technologies uniquely available to WINAICO: the micro-crack preventing HeatCap, and structurally reinforced WSP frame, to create a line of typhoon-resistant solar modules specifically for typhoon-prone markets such as Taiwan and Japan. WINAICO also builds on top of their 3 years of PERC expertise to launch a 315 W, 60-cell, monocrystalline PERC module, which reaches a world-leading 18.9% in module efficiency, rivaling the module efficiencies traditionally only achievable by Hetero-Junction (HIT) and other advanced solar cell technologies. WINAICO’s PERC family of modules is complete with an additional polycrystalline PERC module that reaches 280 W, the most efficient polycrystalline module on the market.
Japan is one of the most typhoon-prone countries in the world, affected by more than 30% of the world’s tropical typhoons each year. More than one Category 4 typhoon reaches Japan every year, resulting in severe damages to countless solar installations.
When solar installations are affected by strong winds, the modules are characterised by constant vibrations with sudden impulses of forces acting from both front and rear sides, in alternating fashion. WINAICO has worked with Taiwan’s leading research institute, ITRI, to perform Dynamic Mechanical Load (DML) tests to simulate the effects of strong wind on WINAICO’s HeatCap modules. HeatCap modules have been tested to endure 1000 cycles of 4000 Pa DML tests with no more than 0.18% of power degradation, while the comparison case without HeatCap degraded by 2.32%. The DML criteria of 4000 Pa is comparable to 202 km/h, level 17 intensity wind on the Beaufort scale, similar to a Category 4 typhoon.
WINAICO’s own WSP frame is designed with strength and reliability in mind, and utilises an external L-key construction. Unlike the inner L-key design common in competitors, the WSP frame has no single point of weakness, and has been tested to withstand more than 7200 Pa of static Mechanical Load (ML), far exceeding the 5400 Pa requirement described in IEC 61215.
“Typhoon is a major cause of micro-cracks and field defects in Taiwan installations,” said Dr Jay Lin, Chief Consultant of PV Guider. “WINAICO has combined two micro-crack mitigating technologies to bring a solution that can protect investors’ solar investments against typhoons in Japan.”
“WINAICO combines our patented HeatCap technology with our unique WSP frames to launch a typhoon-resistant product that can protect the solar installations in typhoon-prone markets like Japan. The extreme DML tests we performed with ITRI shows HeatCap can protect our modules in a Category 4 typhoon”, said Soichiro Yonetsu, Managing Director of WINAICO Japan KK. “We are also proud to announce the launch of our world-leading PERC family of modules, with a 315 W monocrystalline PERC module at 18.9% efficiency, and a 280 W polycrystalline PERC module.”