Solar Centre - Desert Knowledge Australia

Upgraded Metallurgical Grade Silicon, QCells

Q-Cells
Upgraded metallurgical-grade silicon array, fixed ground-mount

Upgraded Metallurgical-Grade Silicon modules are manufactured in a less energy intensive process, thereby reducing the production costs of PV modules.

This upgraded metallurgical-grade silicon array is installed at an optimal orientation, due North at a tilt angle of 20°. As the system setup is the same as that of the five other Q-Cells installations at the Solar Centre, a comparison between different technologies delivered by one manufacturer can be made.

Q-Cells is a global business that manufactures photovoltaic cells and modules. Q-Cells also designs, installs and markets large scale photovoltaic systems.

Electricity produced (annual):9.49 MWh*
System size:5.85 kW
Array area:43.29 m²
Number of panels:26
Panel efficiency:13.51 %
Panel type:QC-C01 225
Inverter size, type:6kW, SMA SMC 6000A
Array orientation:True north, at 20° tilt
Installation completed:1 March 2010

* This figure is based on an assumption of 1.622 MWh annually, per kWp of installed solar panels. This may prove to be a conservative estimate for Alice Springs.

An initiative of Desert Knowledge Australia.
Funding provided by the Australian Government and administered by the Northern Territory Government