3SUN trailblazer in Chile. Our solar panels confirm their performance in the Atacama Desert

In the Atacama Desert, one of the driest places in the World, 3SUN heterojunction (HJT) photovoltaic modules have proven an energy yield up to 6.6% higher than the best PERC technologies on the market. This result confirms the quality, reliability and efficiency of our technology, even in the heaviest environmental conditions.

For over two years, 3SUN, together with INES (the French National Institute for Solar Energy and Atacama Module and System Technology Consortium (ATAMOSTEC), has been the focus of a trail study, comparing different PV technologies in the heart of Chile, 2,400 above the sea level. With this initiative, we had the chance to observe how our modules behave in a real and very challenging context, and to collect essential data to develop our technologies.

The Atacama Desert, a fierce natural lab

The Atacama Desert, in the northern part of Chile, is one of the best places to test the resistance and duration of PV modules. High solar radiation, intense UV radiations, extreme temperature changes and a lot of dust make this place the perfect venue to test the reliability of different technologies.

3SUN and INES launched a long-term trial to compare our bifacial HJT modules with three among the best mono-PERC technologies produced by leading global manufacturers.

During the trial, the modules were installed both on fixed titled supports and on mono-axial horizontal trackers. For each installation type, the modules being tested were connected in rows of eight, surrounded by dummy panels (i.e. inactive modules), so as to simulate the conditions of an actual system and prevent and perimeter effects.

The platform is equipped with an advanced monitoring system that keeps track of all environmental and electric parameters to collect reliable and accurate data.

The results after 30 months of testing

After two years and a half of monitoring, from June 2022 to December 2024, the data collected speak for themselves. The tests have shown:

• An average front radiation gain of 17.5% in mono-axial horizontal trackers compared to fixed structures, with peaks exceeding 30% in the summer;

• Thermal losses in 3SUN modules about 30% lower than PERC modules, despite a slightly higher average temperature (between 0.5°C e 0.8°C more);

• A total energy yield in 3SUN modules up to 6.6% higher than PERC modules on both fixed and mobile structures.

An essential data is the absence of any sign of electric performance downfall. After over two and a half years of exposure to extreme environmental conditions, the performance remained constant. 

3SUN technology: performance, reliability and durability

The results achieved in the Atacama Desert confirm the performances of our HJT modules in a tangible manner. In such a complex environment, 3SUN technology has proven greater energy efficiency, lower thermal loss, resistance over time without degraded performances, and reliability even under extreme conditions.

We will continue to invest in R&D to offer innovative, reliable and sustainable PV solutions, capable of supporting the energy transition effectively.