The company plans to begin commercial production of the solar cell in the second half of 2011.
The cell uses a proprietary new technology, known as ‘Maple’, that allows to enhance power output from multi-crystalline solar cells.
JA Solar claims that Maple cells feature silicon crystals that are broader, flatter and have fewer grain boundaries than traditional multi-crystalline silicon, resulting in reduced energy wastage and improved conversion efficiency.
JA Solar CEO Peng Fang said that by bridging the gap between the higher efficiency of mono-crystalline technology and the lower cost of multi-crystalline cells, Maple technology can drive a new generation of high-power solar modules at attractive price points.
