ASTRO N7 Pro: Redefining Utility-Scale Solar with Power, Efficiency, and Smarter Economics – Baohua He, Head of Global Product Management at Astronergy

1. What are the key technological highlights of the ASTRO N7 Pro, and how does it differentiate itself in the high-power solar module segment?

The key differentiation lies in the integration of multiple cutting-edge technologies into a single product.  

First, ASTRO N7 Pro is built on our latest TOPCon 5.0+ solar cells, integrating advanced technologies like ASP, PF, and SNOP for an efficiency gain exceeding 0.7%.

Second, we adopt industry-leading quarter-cell design, which drastically lowers internal current. This not only boosts power output but significantly enhances hot-spot resistance, reducing peak temperatures by over 30°C compared to standard half-cell modules and increasing energy yield under shading by more than 20%.

Furthermore, our exclusive gapless design allows for greater cell interconnection, increasing the active cell area by about 0.81% while significantly reducing the risk of micro-cracks and enhancing module durability.

Crucially, while achieving maximum power output of 670W and maximum efficiency of 24.8%, it maintains electrical compatibility with our previous generation, allowing for seamless system upgrades without costly inverter changes or redesigns.

• How do the 670W power output and 24.8% efficiency of ASTRO N7 Pro meet the needs of utility-scale projects in Asia-Pacific markets?

For utility-scale projects in hot, humid Asia-Pacific climates, the ultimate goal is minimizing the LCOE over the plant’s lifetime. ASTRO N7 Pro is engineered precisely for this.

The ultra-high-power output of 670W directly lowers initial investment and BOS by reducing the number of modules, cabling, and labor.

More critically for performance, its optimized temperature coefficient of -0.26%/°C means less power loss in high ambient heat. Combined with a high bifaciality of 85±5% and the low-irradiance advantage of TOPCon cell technology during early morning and late afternoon hours, it delivers higher daily and seasonal energy yield per watt.

Additionally, thanks to higher conversion efficiency and lower internal current, ASTRO N7 Pro operates at lower temperatures compared to half-cut cell modules, which helps slow material aging to some extent, thereby reducing power degradation and ensuring higher energy yield over its lifecycle.

• How do the improved temperature coefficient and higher bifacial gains of ASTRO N7 Pro enhance energy yields in hot-climate regions?

They act as a synergistic force.

The superior temperature coefficient safeguards front-side generation performance by minimizing efficiency loss as temperatures rise, a common challenge in Asia-Pacific. Concurrently, the bifaciality of 85±5% enables the module rear-side to continuously capture additional energy yield. Field tests indicate that high bifaciality can deliver 1%-3% energy gain per watt under different ground reflectance conditions.

In practical project applications, especially under hot sunny days common in Asia-Pacific, the optimized temperature coefficient ensures front-side power generation efficiency, while the high bifaciality harvests extra power from the rear side.

The two performances complement each other, jointly ensuring maximum energy yield per unit area in typical Asia-Pacific climates such as tropical and desert environments.

• In what ways does ASTRO N7 Pro help reduce BOS costs and LCOE for large-scale solar projects?

Reducing BOS and LCOE is the ultimate goal of PV technology development. ASTRO N7 Pro optimizes both s cost input and energy output.

On the project input side, its high-power advantage allows fewer modules required per unit of installed capacity, correspondingly saving on costs for racking, foundations, cabling, and installation labor.

Secondly, its use of the “Golden Size” (2382*1134mm) achieves extremely high container space utilization, reducing logistics costs. And as noted, electrical compatibility avoids the need for costly system redesigns. On the output side, a 24.8% efficiency sets a higher baseline for energy conversion. With a degradation of 1% in the first year, and only 0.35% annually thereafter, ASTRO N7 Pro ensures more power generation over a 30+ year lifespan.

As mentioned, the excellent temperature coefficient, bifaciality, and low-light performance together translate into higher annual energy yield in complex real-world conditions.

• What key solar module technology trends do you foresee in Asia-Pacific, and how is Astronergy positioning itself to lead this shift?

Looking ahead at the Asia-Pacific market, we see three clear trends: 1) the dominance of high-efficiency n-type technologies like TOPCon, 2) increasing segmentation of applications, and 3) competition evolving to full lifecycle services beyond just product.

In response, we are deepening our commitment to TOPCon innovation, focusing on breakthroughs in cell efficiency limits, innovation in module packaging technologies (such as multi-cut cells and high-density module packaging), as seen in ASTRO N7 Pro.

Secondly, given the diverse and complex environments of PV project scenarios in the Asia-Pacific region, we have built a full-scenario product portfolio covering applications like utility-scale, C&I distributed, residential, and special environments (such as desert, offshore, etc.). This enables us to precisely meet the diverse market demands of Asia-Pacific.

Furthermore, leveraging the broader CHINT Group’s ecosystem, we are extending our value proposition into areas like smart O&M and integrated solar-storage solutions. Our goal is to be a leader in the region’s high-quality development, not just as a module supplier, but as a comprehensive energy solutions partner.