Thursday, October 16, 2014: Leading solar technology manufacturer, SunEdison Inc., also a provider of solar energy services, announced a new technology, zero white space (ZWS) solar module technology. The technology is able to increase solar module power output by 15 per cent and the total system cost will be reduced by 8 per cent.
In an official statement, Dave Ranhoff, president of solar materials at SunEdison, said the new technology is a major achievement in reducing cost of solar energy as it boosts performance by optimising the solar module. The company’s Missouri, U.S. and Bengaluru, India based R&D centers have delivered the module prototypes and this is said to be just the beginning of ZWS technology. The technology reduces the unused area on the front surface of the solar module which is not directly involved with electricity production.
Ranhoff added that this technology is most suited for limited area based residential set-ups. The technology increases efficiency without adding cost which increases economic value of solar. SunEdison is capable of producing 350 watt peak modules in a 72 cell format. Mass manufacturing is expected to begin in the second half of 2015.