WCA January 2014

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59
Wire & Cable ASIA – January/February 2014
Abstract
PV ribbon is an essential component in every mainstream
solar panel and is used to interconnect solar cells and
provide connection to the junction box. PV ribbon is
tinned copper ribbon between 1mm-6mm wide and
0.08mm-0.5mm thick, with a 10 micron-30 micron thick
solder coat. The quality of PV ribbon and its soldering to
the solar cells is essential to ensure panel efficiency and
durability.
This article scans the market dynamics of PV ribbon
manufacturing and outlines PV ribbon product
specifications commonly required by the panel
manufacturers. These include properties such as material
compositions, dimension ranges, straightness, solder coat
thickness, mechanical characteristics and others.
The traditional tinning process is compared to the new
chemical-free plasma assisted tinning process, which has
been widely adopted in the West and increasingly in Asia
as well. The two production processes are compared in
terms of output, productivity, efficiency, process control
and environmental impact.
PV ribbon
PV ribbon is a hot dip tinned copper conductor used
in photovoltaic solar panels. There are two types of PV
ribbon: The interconnect or tabbing ribbon and PV bus bar,
both needed in a typical silicon solar cell. Thin film panels
usually require only bus bar.
The interconnect ribbon is soldered directly onto silicon
crystal to interconnect solar cells in a solar panel. The
interconnect ribbon carries the current generated in solar
cells to the PV bus bar.
PV bus bar is a hot dip tinned copper conductor installed
around the perimeter of the solar panels. PV bus bar
connects interconnect ribbons to the junction box.
PV ribbon: Overview of
product specifications and
comparison of production
processes
By Igor Rogelj, Peter Ziger and Primoz Eiselt, Plasmait GmbH, Lebring, Austria
❍
❍ Figure 1: Interconnect ribbon produced on the
PlasmaPREPLATE Tinning line and wound on the spool as a
finished product ready for stringing
PV ribbon market dynamics
PV ribbon manufacturing is a growing, dynamic and
fragmented part of the PV industry. There are many
different types of solar panels and solar cells, which
require different types of PV ribbons. Solar panel and cell
designs are constantly changing driven by rapid innovation
in the PV industry. This results in ever changing PV ribbon
specifications. PV ribbon suppliers are also under constant
price pressure, which is led by fast declines in solar panel
prices.
PV ribbon is a key component in the solar panel and is an
important factor driving panel efficiency and durability.
High efficiency and durability of the solar panel can only
be achieved with a good quality PV ribbon that has been
properly installed into the solar panel. Good quality PV
ribbon can also improve panel production efficiency and
reduces associated scrap rates.