First Solar Inc of Tempe, AZ, USA, which makes thin-film photovoltaic modules based on cadmium telluride (CdTe) as well as providing engineering, procurement & construction (EPC) services, has launched its modular AC Power Block solar power plant solution and its next-generation First Solar Series 4 thin-film photovoltaic (PV) module. The firm is showcasing these and other solutions in hall A2, booth 575, at the Intersolar Europe 2014 exhibition in Messe München, Munich, Germany (4-6 June).
Purpose-built for power plant owners and developers seeking to minimize project risk and maximize energy production and revenue, the AC Power Block is a configurable system that can be scaled to address a wide range of project conditions. The pre-engineered system is available in modular units ranging from 800kW to 3.8MW. Based on First Solar’s proven PV plant design and energy prediction model, the AC Power Block is backed by a first-year energy performance guarantee and a 25-year capacity warranty.
The new Series 4 module offers up to 8% more energy than conventional crystalline silicon modules with the same power rating, it is reckoned, and is compatible with advanced 1500V plant architectures. The Series 4A variant features a new anti-reflective coated glass, which enhances energy production. The module is backed by First Solar’s 25-year Linear Performance Warranty.
“What matters most to our customers is reliable energy output achieved through proven technology. The AC Power Block and the Series 4 module are designed to deliver on those expectations,” says Thomas Kuster, senior VP of product management. “As solar energy secures its place in the global energy mix, these offerings demonstrate First Solar’s ability to deliver solutions that address our customers’ specific needs,” he adds.
“The underlying principle behind these new offerings and our existing power systems portfolio is an unwavering focus on a goal that we share with our customers in Europe and around the world: reliable generation of solar energy that is competitive within the framework of the region’s energy generation portfolio,” says Christopher Burghardt, VP for Europe. “Showcasing our industry-leading range of solutions at the region’s premier solar energy exhibition underscores the market’s importance to our growth strategy.”
Also at Intersolar, First Solar is spotlighingt its Modules Plus System, which features fixed-tilt and single-axis tracker designs optimized for installation ease, project value, and operational reliability with First Solar’s thin-film PV modules.
