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Technology
Update
Raffi Garabedian
Chief Technology Officer
First Solar Invests in the Industry's
Broadest and Deepest R&D Portfolio
2
© Copyright 2014, FIRST SOLAR
OUR MISSION: Highest Lifetime Power Plant Returns
COST OF
OWNERSHIP
• Plant Cost
• O&M Cost
$
PLANT
PERFORMANCE
• Energy Density
• Capacity Factor
3
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SYSTEM
ROBUSTNESS
• Durability
• O&M Costs
CELL TECHNOLOGY: A Leading Indicator
4
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RESEARCH CELL EFFICIENCY: Fastest Innovation Rate in the Industry
30%
FEBRUARY 2016
22.1%
FSLR
SINGLE CRYSTAL SILICON (Non-Concentrator)
25%
MULTICRYSTALLINE SILICON
20%
CdTe
15%
10%
5%
5
'95 '96 '97 '98 '99
© Copyright 2014, FIRST SOLAR
'01 '02
'04
'11 '12 '13 '14 '15 '16
Each point is a certified result as published in NREL’s “Record Cell Efficiency Records”
RESEARCH IMPLEMENTATION: Roadmap
Research Cell
2013
2014
2015
2016
Mid Term
18.7%
20%
21.0%
22%
24%
21.0% 21.5% 22.1%
1–2
years
Cell to Module Translation
Research Module*
16.1%
17.2%
18.5%
17% 18.2%
19.4%
21.7%
>19%
1–3
years
Practical Manufacturing
Manufacturing Average**
6
13.4%
14.4 -14.9% 15.1 -16.2%
16.9%
14.4% 16.1%
16.7%
>19%†
* Total Module Area Efficiency. 2015 record module would be 18.6% if reported on aperture area efficiency as is common practice amongst crystalline silicon manufacturers
** Represents Q4 full fleet average. †Series 6
© Copyright 2014, FIRST SOLAR
LAB VS FIELD Conditions
Lab Condition (STC)
Field Condition
(Energy Normalized)
First Solar CdTe Efficiency
16.5%
15.5%
mc-Si Efficiency
16.5%
13.86%
Cell Temp
25°C
65°C
0%
+6% for CdTe
Spectral Gain
10
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Field condition efficiency is an approximate normalization for energy yield performance in Dubai on tracker.
ENERGY DENSITY ADVANTAGE: Revisited
1m²
11
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1 yr Energy
m²
$
ENERGY DENSITY ADVANTAGE: Revisited
A+B+C+D = 11%
UP
TO
BETTER ENERGY DENSITY
12
© Copyright 2014, FIRST SOLAR
Represents lead line efficiency for both First Solar and multi-crystalline silicon. Multi-crystalline silicon based on 2016 forecast from ITRPV roadmap dated July 2015.
ENERGY DENSITY ADVANTAGE | 2016
• First Solar’s energy density advantage, relative to multi-crystalline silicon globally
13
Represents lead line efficiency for both First Solar and multi-crystalline silicon. Multi-crystalline silicon based on 2016 forecast from ITRPV roadmap dated July 2015.
© Copyright 2014, FIRST SOLAR
ENERGY DENSITY ADVANTAGE | 2016 5%+ Advantage
• First Solar’s energy density advantage, relative to multi-crystalline silicon globally
14
Represents lead line efficiency for both First Solar and multi-crystalline silicon. Multi-crystalline silicon based on 2016 forecast from ITRPV roadmap dated July 2015.
© Copyright 2014, FIRST SOLAR
Opportunities For Balance of Systems Innovation
SCADA SYSTEM
PCS
PV MODULE
ARRAYS
COMBINER
BOXES
15
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INVERTER
TRANSFORMER
Fixed Mounting System
SUBSTATION
POWER GRID
Module
BoS
Fixed
(AC)
BoS
Variable
(DC)
Tracker Mounting System
BOS COST REDUCTION PROGRAMS …To Date
Tracker
1500 V Inverter
1500 V Architecture
Jan-152015Jul-15
16
© Copyright 2014, FIRST SOLAR
Jan-16
Jul-16
Jan-17
Jul-17
Jan-18
Jul-18
Jan-19
Jul-19
Jan-20
Jul-20 2020
BOS reduction based on standard California tracker plant
INTRODUCING Medium Voltage DC Plant Architecture (MVDC)
PCS
1500V DC
34.5kV AC
SUBSTATION
1500V DC
INVERTER
TRANSFORMER
INVERTER
TRANSFORMER
COMBINER
BOXES
MVDC
AC
INVERTER
1500V DC
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© Copyright 2014, FIRST SOLAR
DC/DC
CONVERTER
TRANSFORMER
SUBSTATION
POWER GRID
POWER GRID
INTRODUCING Medium Voltage DC Plant Architecture (MVDC)
MVDC
AC
INVERTER
1500V DC
DC/DC
CONVERTER
TRANSFORMER
SUBSTATION
POWER GRID
Storage Ready
KEY BENEFITS





Fewer Components/Reduced Wiring
Higher Plant Efficiency
Reduced O&M
Robust Grid Capability
Ready for Storage Architecture
TIMING
Commercial Pilot
Product Launch
18
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NEW TECHNOLOGY Continues to drive BOS Lower
Next Gen S5 Tracker
Trunk Bus
Next Gen Plant Architecture
Jan-15
2015Jul-15
19
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Jan-16
Jul-16
Jan-17
Jul-17
Jan-18
Jul-18
Jan-19
Jul-19
Jan-20
Jul-20
2020
BOS reduction based on standard California tracker plant
INTRODUCING First Solar Series 5 PV Module
•
•
•
Increased Energy Density
Reduced Structure Costs
Reduced Installation Costs
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© Copyright 2014, FIRST SOLAR
COMPARISON of FS Series 5 to Multi c-Si Modules
FIRST
SOLAR
S5
Multi
Multi c-Si
Multi c-Si
w/ PERC
365Wp
315Wp
330Wp
-0.28%/°C
-0.40%/°C
-0.40%/°C
Spectral Gain
Up to 6%
0%
0%
Tracker Shading Gain
Up to 1%
0%
0%
Series 5
Maximum
Power (Pmax)
1.8m
Temperature
Coefficient of Pmax
c-Si
2m
1.2m
1m
21
© Copyright 2014, FIRST SOLAR
Data from First Solar and competitor data sheets.
FIRST SOLAR’S NEW S5  365W Module with All the Perks!
HIGHER
POWER!
10–12%
HIGHER
ENERGY
DENSITY!
BOS
OPTIMIZED!
• 365W module
• Efficiency plus
• Eliminate all clips
beats 330W multi
Energy Yield
• Reduced
c-Si per
advantages deliver
electrical
installation
up to 12% higher
connections by
Energy Density
2/3
22
© Copyright 2014, FIRST SOLAR
• >2x Increased
installation
velocity
World
Leading
Reliability!
• Maintains world
leading extended
durability profile
and certifications
MANUFACTURING PROCESS | Comparison
< 3.5
HRS
GLASS
Semiconductor
Deposition
< 15%
Polysilicon
23
22%
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Cell
Definition
Final
Assembly
& Test
First Solar
MODULE
•
•
•
•
•
Large glass substrate vs. individual Si wafers
Fully integrated, continuous process
Lowest energy and water use
1-2% of the semiconductor material vs Si
Enables lowest carbon footprint and fastest energy
payback time
85%
<3
DAYS
Output
Ingot
Output
Wafer
22%
Output
Solar Cell
19%
Output
Module
37%
Si value add data from BNEF “The Relentless Fall in Chinese PV Costs” (October 2014)
ONE MORE THING… First Solar Series 6 PV Module
FIRST
SOLAR
S6
>400 W
24
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FIRST SOLAR SERIES 6 PV Module
S4
FIRST
SOLAR
117 W
25
© Copyright 2014, FIRST SOLAR
S5
FIRST
SOLAR
365 W
S6
FIRST
SOLAR
>400 W