N.I.C.E.-Wire: Next Generation Robust Eco-Friendly Bifacial PV Modules With High Efficiency

As PV enters the terawatt era, reliability, sustainability and low carbon footprint of solar modules are key requirements. The N.I.C.E.
^TM
technology from Apollon Solar is a good candidate for significant improvements in these areas. As the second-generation pilot line is now functional with IEC certification underway, we present a holistic assessment of N.I.C.E.
^TM
technology compared with conventional module technology with encapsulant. This includes electrical performance and cost/consumables, reliability, and degradation mechanisms as well as sustainability aspects. In addition, the new generation of N.I.C.E.-wire modules are presented that use thin round Cu wires instead of flat ribbons for interconnection. This candidate technology for an alternative to the Smart Wire Connection Technology (SWCT) is investigated experimentally as well as via numerical simulations.