5 Attributes that Make Canadian Solar High-Power Modules a Must for Solar Projects

In the urban landscape, you’ll find two main challenges. Electricity prices are rising, and space to set up renewable energy plants like solar is limited.

So, is it really surprising that modules with capacities of 670-700 W are gaining popularity? After all, with high-power modules, you can generate more energy in a much smaller space.

And one brand that remains at the top when it comes to modules in this category, is Canadian Solar.

So in this blog, we will discuss the standout features of Canadian Solar high-power modules and understand what makes them ideal for utility-scale and large scale solar projects.

Established in 2001, Canadian Solar is one of the most reputed module manufacturers in the industry. The organization has set up subsidiaries in over 26 countries and shipped more than 110 GW of module capacity worldwide.

In the high power category, Canadian Solar has the HiKu7 Mono Perc and BiHiKu7 Bifacial Mono Perc modules with a rated power of up to 665 Wp. These are half-cut solar modules with a wafer size of 210mm.

In a saturated solar market, HiKu7/BiHIku7 modules shine in three areas- cost, yield, and reliability. They are utility-friendly modules that generate more energy, even in shaded and low-light conditions, and cut down BoS costs significantly.

Let’s understand these features in detail:

Canadian Solar panels use the company’s unique Hetero-Type Ribbon (HTR) and paving technology due to which the gap between solar cells is reduced by up to 50% and power yield can reach up to 665 Wp.

Source: Canadian Solar

By using 70% of what was previously an inactive module area, CSI modules can reach efficiencies of up to 21.4%. And as the solar cells are tightly packed together in the module, the probability of cell cracks also falls.

Canadian Solar modules have a symmetrical design, because of which they display great performance even in shaded conditions. Moreover, shade has a lower impact on these modules due to their size as compared to conventional modules.

For example, if a shadow falls on a 166mm solar cell, covering 20% of the cell surface, it will lead to a power loss of 5%. But in a 210mm solar cell, the same shadow would cover only 12.5% of the area and lead to a power loss of 3%.

Consequently, CSI modules generate more energy over time.

A hotspot occurs when a weak cell blocks the flow of current in the series. Moreover, rather than generating, these cells start pulling energy from the neighbouring solar cells and overheating. Hotspots can occur due to shading, soiling, cell cracks, electrical mismatch, etc.

Canadian solar safeguards against this issue by incorporating advanced hotspot control technologies.

Firstly, in the CSI HiKu7 and BiHiKu7 modules, every 20-22 solar cells are protected by a single diode. Bypass diodes are used in solar panels to provide an alternate route to the current in case a solar cell stops generating power.

By reducing the number of cells per diode, CSI high-power modules bring down the hotspot risk significantly. The modules are also equipped with CSAR (Canadian Solar Infrared Ray) technology to minimize hotspot potential.

Additionally, the larger size of the solar cell along with the half-cell design, helps keep the hotspot temperature low and ensures that if this issue occurs, the temperature rises more moderately.

You require less equipment to generate higher capacity with CSI HiKu7 and BiHiKu7 modules because of their high current and high capacity. This means a reduced requirement for structure, cables, and other BoS items.

The installation costs are also lower. This reduction in costs brings down the LCOE of a system with Canadian Solar panels. LCOE here refers to the Levelized Cost of Energy which is the ratio of the total cost incurred by the system and the total energy generated during its lifetime.

With HiKu7 you will get up to 3.5 % lower LCOE, up to 5.7 % lower system cost. BiHiKu7 panels on the other hand reduce LCOE by 8.9% and system cost by 4.6%.

Canadian Solar modules undergo stringent testing to ensure that every piece of equipment performs as per standards in real-life conditions. Moreover, the testing is more rigorous than IEC C 61730 / 61215 standards.

The modules are also tested for extreme weather phenomena, be it cold, high humidity, or tornado. The data shared by Canadian Solar shows that the HiKu7 and BiHiKu7 panels showed no more than 0.5% power loss and no significant cracks under these conditions.

Additionally, the company conducts thorough hotspot and LETID (light-induced degradation) tests, deploying the modules only after they successfully pass these stringent assessments.

Combining features like high efficiency, better low light performance, and larger irradiance area, Canadian Solar HiKu7 solar modules provide a generation boost of 0.5% in the first year itself. Meanwhile, with bifacial modules, the power gain in the first year is close to 5.5%, as compared to conventional modules.

Moreover, BiHiKu7 bifacial modules generate 25.7% more energy in their lifetime.

Apart from this, Canadian solar modules are also compatible with all top solar inverter brands. The new Enphase IQ8 series especially is ideal for high-power modules up to 670 Wp.

Ornate Solar is a leading solar company with 8+ years of experience in the industry and the mission to reimagine the way solar is installed worldwide.

By not only partnering with the best-in-class solar brands but also developing our high-quality solutions, (panels, inverters, accessories, InRoof), we develop and deliver solutions that are modern, reliable, and effective.

Ornate Solar is also the exclusive distributor of Canadian Solar panels in India.

If you are looking for high-efficiency Canadian solar panels, reach out to us at 011 43536666 to discuss your options.