Low Current Represents the Best Choice for PV Modules

Recently, Guangzhou Development New Energy Co., Ltd. began bidding for procurement of PV modules for 2021 and 2022. This procurement is divided into two bidding sections with a total procurement scale of 1.08GW. The power threshold is set for the PV modules of the two bidding sections and the current of the modules should not exceed 15A. It shows that system safety and high power are equally important. Limiting the current size of modules can effectively improve the project economic efficiency, and it also provides a strong guarantee for system safety and compatibility.

Low Current Leads to Low Cable Loss

In the terms of project economic efficiency, the power generation of PV modules is the biggest factor affecting LCOE. There is trade-off between the selection of cables for high-current modules and the loss of power generation caused by high-current. How to find the best balance between these two has become an issue that generates widespread concern in the industry. Take JinkoSolar Tiger Pro as the example,

	Tiger Pro 545W	600W Larger Size Module
Short circuit current（Isc）	13.94A	18.42A

It can be seen that if the same cable is selected, the higher the module current, the greater the cable loss. If a thicker cable is used to reduce cable loss, its cost will increase.

Low Current Ensures Module Safety

In terms of current safety, Tiger Pro modules series does not need to upgrade the current protection, and there is no need to increase additional device cost.

	Open circuit voltage V/short circuit current (A) (25% backside gain)	Current specification of string protection device (A)	Array protection device (A)(24 strings)
Tiger Pro 72p	49.26/17.45A	30A	600A
60p Larger Size Modules	38.1/22.98A	35A	N/A

Source: IEC62548-2016（Photovoltaic (PV) arrays – Design requirements）

It can be seen that higher currents require protection devices of larger specifications to ensure the safety of modules. Tiger Pro modules series can ensure not only more safety, but it can also reduce the cost of additional protection devices.

In addition, JinkoSolar is committed to continuously improving module safety. JinkoSolar PV R&D team focuses on solving industry problems and actively promotes the quality of R&D work. Through simulation analysis, product prototype verification, manufacturing process development, reliability verification and other stages, JinkoSolar launched 30A high-current module split junction box, to ensure its stable and reliable operation in high-current environment. The junction box has been applied for the national patent, making JinkoSolar Tiger Pro modules series become mature and high-quality products in the global PV manufacturing industry.

Module Type	Isc	Bifacial Factor	Safety Factor	Theoretical Maximum Current	Junction Box Type	Safety Margin
182 Bifacial Module	13.8	1.3	1.25	22.4	25	10%
					30	25%
Large Size Module	18.43	1.3	1.25	29.94	30	0.18%

The data of actual power plant project shows that the greater the current of PV module is, the more demanding the safety of the PV junction box is. The junction box connected with Tiger Pro modules series has already taken the safety perspective into account to the greatest extent, where the 30A high-current module split junction box can achieve 25% safety margin, leaving enough space for future applications of new technologies such as battery efficiency improvement or new efficiency enhancement technologies.