Canadian Solar and Energy Research Center of the Netherlands just announced a new technology agreement today that gives Canadian Solar access to the Energy Research Center’s metal wrap-through (“MWT”) cells. Under the joint technology development and transfer agreement, Canadian Solar will be able to apply this technology to its production lines.

This technology will provide Canadian Solar with a few key advantages. First, metal wrap-through cells increase solar cells’ effective surface and the conversion efficiency. They also allow back-side interconnection technology in module production, which improves module conversion efficiency.

In a press release, leaders from both companies commented on the deal:

Canadian Solar’s Chairman and CEO, Shawn Qu, said, “We are very pleased to have the Energy Research Center as a technology partner. ECN is a leading institute for high-efficiency cell and module technologies such as MWT.
Working together will help us to improve the higher-powered modules currently preferred as a premium product by Canadian Solar’s customers. Producing high-efficiency cells is an important part of our commitment to producing
premium branded products. In addition to the brand value of these products, higher power modules can reduce manufacturing and installation costs, both of which are critical to making PV systems more cost-effective for end
customers.”

  ECN’s chairman of the board, Ton Hoff, said, “Canadian Solar is an ideal partner for us. Its long-term commitment to leveraging R&D to provide higher quality, more cost-effective PV products has made it an industry leader.  As a strong and independent research institute, ECN gives their partners a perfect opportunity to apply the latest technologies. By working with ECN, Canadian Solar now has created an opening to achieve a better competitive edge in the PV market. We are excited to be working together because Canadian Solar has the financial strength, global reach and scale needed to move our technology from a laboratory environment to real-world, commercial applications that can help increase the use of environmentally friendly, solar energy systems.”