Canadian Solar
Canadian Solar Inc. is one of the world’s largest solar module producers. As a leading vertically integrated provider of ingots, wafers, solar cells, solar modules, solar power systems and specialized solar products, Canadian Solar delivers uncompromising value to its customers across the globe.
One of the reasons we like the Canadian Solar module is because of their high PTC rating.
To find out why a high PTC rating is important or what a PTC rating is, read the brief report below. It was written by Nick Babic, the head of our commercial engineering. His research comes from a 2MW Power Purchase Agreement (PPA).
PTC refers to PVUSA Test Conditions, which were developed to test and compare PV systems as part of the PVUSA (Photovoltaics for Utility Scale Applications) project. PTC are 1,000 Watts per square meter solar irradiance, 20 degrees C air temperature, and wind speed of 1 meter per second at 10 meters above ground level. The higher the PTC rating, the more power you are going to get out of a given module. PV manufacturers use Standard Test Conditions, or STC, to rate their PV products. STC are 1,000 Watts per square meter solar irradiance, 25 degrees C cell temperature, air mass equal to 1.5, and ASTM G173-03 standard spectrum. The PTC rating, which is lower than the STC rating, is generally recognized as a more realistic measure of PV output because the test conditions better reflect "real-world" solar and climatic conditions, compared to the STC rating. Canadian Solar has one of the highest PTC ratings. Comparison (source: California Energy Commission – industry standard: http://www.gosolarcalifornia.org/equipment/pv_modules.php )
Chinese manufacturers:- Canadian Solar CS6P-230p...... PTC: 211.0 W
- Suntech Pluto 230-Udm……..PTC: 210.3 W
- Schuco MPE 230 PS 09………..PTC: 208.8 W
- Suntech STP 230-20/Wd……..PTC: 208.6 W
- Trina TSM-230PA05…………….PTC: 205.2 W
- Trina TS-230PA05.05…………..PTC: 206.7 W
- Yingli YL230P-29b………………..PTC: 206.6 W
US Manufacturers
- SolarWorld SW230 mono……PTC: 205.8W (mono black is 205.0W)
- SolarWorld SW230 Poly……..PTC: 205.2W