Pforzheim/Munich, 09th of April, 2019 - High-performing, robust and efficient - the

solutions presented by the finalists of the Intersolar AWARD 2019 make them worthy
contenders for the prestigious prize, which honors pioneering technologies and services
for the solar industry. The submissions for the award span a wide range of technologies,
from solar modules to inverters to substructures. The prizes will be awarded on May 15,
2019 at The smarter E Forum in hall B3, booth B3.570 as part of The smarter E Europe,
Europe's largest platform for the energy industry.

The winners of the Intersolar AWARD and their products reflect the developments in the modern
energy supply and motivate the industry to play an active part in shaping the energy future with
groundbreaking innovations. The sector benefits from this - along with the winners - as the award
attracts international attention from clients, partners and the trade press.

High-performing, robust and sustainable - this year's trends
Higher performance and greater efficiency combined with a longer service life - those are the trends
for solar modules in 2019. Product and performance warranties are extending for as long as 35 years,
while modules are more resistant to linear degradation. Cell technology is dominated by half-cut cell
modules. Laminating bypass diodes into each cell minimizes shading loss and prevents hotspots
when temperatures climb. High-performance monocrystalline n-type half-cut cells optimize bifacial
glass-glass modules for use in power plants. Thin-film modules in CdTe technologies for power plants
provide an output of 420 watts.

For inverters, the focus is on long service lives and improved maintenance strategies. Additional
functions being implemented include characteristic curve analysis, multi MPP tracking, combination
with performance optimizers, or connection to a battery. Interconnected technologies are
increasingly enabling app-based services such as monitoring and system operation as well as smart
home and smart grid applications.

Planners developing substructures on industrial and commercial rooftops and verifying technical
specifications can draw on professional CAD-based programs. Set-up is becoming simpler thanks to
novel high-tech, age-resistant mounting systems using plastic material and a click-fit mechanism.
Installations are being tailored to individual buildings with solar roof tiles, trapezoid and triangular
modules, and patterned transparent module front glass. And this green technology is becoming
greener - special substructure systems are making it possible to generate solar energy on rooftops
planted with vegetation.

The finalists from A to Z
• ABB (Italy): ABB is introducing a new generation of central inverters with its PVS980-58.
This model has a power rating of around 5.5 MW and a unique cooling system, setting a new
benchmark for the power plant sector. The maintenance strategy and the focus on a long
service life promise lower operating costs.
• AE Alternative Energy GmbH (Germany): AE Alternative Energy's module design
provides up to 30 percent more output in the shade. Bypass diodes increase shade tolerance
and prevent hotspots from developing due to localized shading or module defects. This means
the modules can be used at high temperatures up to 85° Celsius.
• Beijing Hanergy PV Investment Ltd. (China): The solar roof tile HanTile is a pioneering
example of how solar cells can be elegantly integrated into roofs. CIGS solar cells in curved
glass elements form plug-in PV modules rated 30 W. The solar roof cells are laid just like
shingles to completely replace the conventional roof covering. They meet high standards in
terms of construction, fire safety, waterproofing and mechanical strength.
• Contec Deutschland GmbH (Germany): Contec's product Contec.greenlight combines a
PV mounting system for rooftop installations with a green roof solution. The base plate is
light and easy to lay, and is filled with a granulate where plants can grow. The integrated
water reservoir stores rainwater for the plants and supports the drainage system during
heavy rain.
• Huawei Technologies Co., Ltd. (China): The series Smart PV String Inverter SUN2000-
20KTL-M0 enables flexible set-up of commercial systems. Although the design does not
incorporate a fan, the system is lightweight and compact. It is combined with performance
optimizers if necessary due to shading or differing module orientations. The integrated error
diagnostics and energy management system ensure trouble-free operation with or without a
battery storage system.
• Raycatch Ltd. (Israel): DeepSolar is a diagnostic software program for cost-optimized
maintenance of PV power plants. The AI-based algorithm uses data generated by existing
monitoring systems to enable optimization of operation and maintenance - replacing
interval-based maintenance with a cost-efficient responsive approach.
• Staudinger GmbH (Germany): Staudinger's remote-controlled cleaning robot moves
across the PV installation on suction pads arranged to form caterpillar tracks. A magnetic
field measuring instrument allows the robot to detect faulty string diodes or cell connectors
and display them in high-resolution images.
• SunPower Corp. (USA): The new Maxeon 3 series solar module with back contact cells has
an outstanding efficiency rating of up to 22.6 percent. Just 1.69 meters long, the modules
offer output of 370-400 W with a 92 percent performance and product warranty over 25
years.
• Tessolar Inc. (USA): The newly founded company Tessolar has developed a whole new
mounting system concept for PV installations. The Tesserack system replaces metal
substructures with lightweight elements made from a plastic material that is also used in
space technology. The PV modules can be rapidly clicked into place with no need for tools.
• Zhejiang Jinko Solar Co., Ltd. (China): Jinko has used the transparent back sheet Swan
from DuPont for the first time in its Cheetah Bifacial HC module, making it more lightweight
than glass-glass modules. The bifacial half-cut cell module, with an output of up to 400 W,
is ideal for PV power plants and is optimized to ensure a low levelized cost of electricity
(LCoE). It also offers a linear performance warranty lasting 30 years.

Further information on the awards can be found here:
• The smarter E AWARD: www.TheSmarterE-award.com
• Intersolar AWARD: www.intersolar-award.com
• ees AWARD: www.ees-award.com

About The smarter E
The smarter E is the world's leading exhibition and conference series for new energy solutions. Digitalization and decentralization are changing the face of the energy world for good, and the steady rise in electricity from volatile and renewable sources requires new concepts and solutions for generating, storing, distributing and using energy efficiently. The smarter E unites exhibitions and conferences on four continents that take an in-depth look at these topics.
Intersolar is the world's leading exhibition series for the solar industry and its partners. It focuses on
photovoltaics, solar thermal technologies, solar power plants, grid infrastructure, and solutions for the integration of renewable energies. Since being founded 28 years ago, Intersolar has become the most important industry platform in the global solar industry.
ees is the leading exhibition for batteries and energy storage systems and the industry platform for suppliers, manufacturers, distributors and professional users of stationary energy storage solutions and battery systems along the entire supply chain.
Power2Drive reflects the opportunities and necessity of the energy transition in the transportation sector. The focus is on traction batteries for electric vehicles as well as infrastructure solutions and technologies for clean mobility.
At EM-Power, professional energy customers - with their demand for efficient energy technologies, intelligent control systems and energy savings - and the key concepts underpinning the energy transition in industry and the building sector take center stage.