Maxeon Innovation in IBC Solar Panels Eliminates Hotspot Risk
Field testing shows new Maxeon 7 IBC cells exhibit 70% lower average temperature rise in partial shading compared to competing technologies
Maxeon IBC panels provide solar customers with safer, more reliable energy that mitigates the development of extreme hotspots that can irreparably damage standard panels. Maxeon's resiliency against hotspots builds on its long history of delivering the industry's most advanced solar panels, optimizing the balance between product performance and reliability—a critical factor in being the only manufacturer to offer a comprehensive 40-year warranty on its panels.
Maxeon's engineering team carried out the competitive assessment at the company's R&D test lab in
Additionally, when subjected to simulated bypass diode failure—the primary defense mechanism of standard solar panels against hotspots—the patented electrical architecture of the Maxeon IBC cell continued to limit heat build-up in the shaded cells. As a result, Maxeon IBC panels were inherently protected from the severe backsheet discoloration, bubbling, and burning that was witnessed in the standard ribbon-based back contact, HJT, and TOPCon panels under the same test conditions. As competitive technologies rapidly spiraled toward complete panel failure, Maxeon 7 IBC panels maintained a stable temperature in the shaded cell, even without the protection of the bypass diode.
"We've spent nearly 40 years refining the patented cell and panel design of our proprietary Maxeon IBC panel technology to maximize reliability and energy production—both critical factors in lowering the levelized cost of energy (LCOE) for customers around the world," said
This sentiment was echoed in a recent third-party study that examined the temperature-related effects of shadow-induced hotspots, titled "The effect of partial shading on the reliability of photovoltaic modules in the built-environment."
The study found that based on the characteristics of IBC cells, including diode functionality, uniform heating, and lower breakdown voltage, IBC panels like Maxeon 7 exhibit more favorable performance under partial shade compared to other module technologies like PERC and HJT. While the study did not extend to examining the effects of diode failure, it did note that the IBC cell temperatures under partial shade remain an average of 60 °C cooler compared to other panel technologies that exhibited hotspot temperatures over 150 °C—temperatures hot enough to induce deterioration of encapsulants and backsheets.
Maxeon encourages the industry to revisit baseline reliability testing to further minimize hotspot risk for customers. For example, current IEC bypass diode testing is designed for early life failure detection, not for longer-term wear out failures. Longer, higher temperature stress tests that can accurately assess a panel's ability to safely withstand cell cracks and reasonable shade levels in the field would ensure safer and more reliable products.
"Solar panel manufacturers should continue to pursue improved product design—technology risk shouldn't be the customer's burden to bear," Dawson continued. "We believe many of today's manufacturers are sacrificing product reliability in the pursuit of higher power and efficiency. High performance solar panels truly maximize lifetime customer value when they can match that performance with low degradation and long-term reliability."
Maxeon's white paper, "Eliminating Solar Panel Hotspot Risk with Maxeon IBC Technology" can be found here.
Maxeon will be highlighting its Maxeon 7 IBC solar panels, along with its complete portfolio of Maxeon and SunPower solar energy solutions, at Intersolar Europe in
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