REC Solar Modules Excel in Tests

REC announced the results of a study performed by Fraunhofer Institute, the leading European solar technology research institute, placing REC solar modules ahead of two leading module brands in a year-long performance ratio study.

The study was commissioned by REC. The study also demonstrated that REC’s use of the Sunarc anti-reflective treatment on the module glass increases energy production.

During a period of 12 months, Fraunhofer studied the performance of two arrays with REC modules, one array with modules from a leading European producer, and one array with modules from a leading Chinese producer. During the test, the REC modules recorded a performance ratio 4.8 percent higher than the Chinese modules and 1 percent higher than the European modules.

“The higher performance ratio translates into increased production of electricity and additional money generated for the owner of the system with REC modules”, said Åsmund Fodstad, vice president sales and marketing. REC provides a 25-year power output guarantee on its modules.

The Fraunhofer study also demonstrated that REC’s use of anti-reflective treatment on the module glass increases energy production and performance ratio.

The test evaluated two arrays of identical REC modules, one with anti-reflective treated glass and one without. The modules with anti-reflective treated glass showed a higher performance ratio compared to modules with untreated glass. The anti-reflective treatment reduces the reflectivity of the glass surface, allowing more sunlight to enter into the solar cells for conversion to electricity. The treatment has been applied on all modules manufactured by REC since 2007.

“This study confirms that the anti-reflective treatment of the glass used in the REC modules contributes to excellent performance in a wide range of sunlight conditions,” Fodstad said.

The REC modules are optimized for low light conditions such as sunrise and sunset, in effect waking up early in the morning and going to sleep late in the evening.