Wattlab

Background

Wattlab is a new company in the area of array encapsulation. Relatively unknown but made a splash by doing the arrays of Eindhoven and U of T for WSC 2019. Netherlands based company.

Technical Details

Less rectangular cells result in higher manufacturing costs.

Timeline

Aug 6, 2019 (Outgoing): Initial reach out to Wattlab after learning about them through social media posts from Stanford, Eindhoven and U of T.

Aug 13, 2019 (Incoming): Acknowledgement of our email, notified that Siebe will be our contact person and he will be in touch next week by David.

Aug 16, 2019 (Outgoing): Acknowledgement of email.

Sept 9, 2019 (Incoming): David becomes point of contact. Brief introduction and cell size description (6x12)

Sept 9, 2019 (Outgoing): Sent initial proposal and stated intention of using Me1s. Also included CAD of roof render.

Sept 12, 2019 (Incoming): Confusion on Wattlab’s end with how to interpret some of the array parts. Sends a first proposal back.

Sept 20, 2019 (Outgoing): Clarification about the gaps on the render and where they correspond to on the Excel document. Ask about how switching to 2 Elmar MPPTs could potentially impact our array layout. Ask about physical constraints as some of the strings in the proposal are close to 22 cells, the bottom limit of our strings.

Oct 15, 2019 (Incoming): David understands our concern and states the physical constraints of their own array layouts (1mm cell-to-cell, 3mm cell-to-module). Asks questions about if we know how we intend to electrically connect the cells physically and if we are in contact with Sunpower about cells and pricing.

Nov 5, 2019 (Outgoing): Delayed response back to David as our team determined that the array layout template we were using was not the correct one. Attached the V1 of the 6-5 array layout (see files), stating the intention to wire modules 7 and 8 in series with 9,10,11 across the panel gap.

Nov 13, 2019 (Outgoing): Follow up to the previous email to ensure Wattlab received it.

Nov 14, 2019 (Incoming): David confirms that Wattlab has experience with cutting cells in half and laminating them. Notes there is an efficiency drop and higher price for diced cells. Recommended a method of reducing of complexity is to have more than one string of solar cells in a single module.

Nov 17, 2019 (Outgoing): Declare intention to put half cells in series with larger modules. Asked about drop in electrical output due to half cells and pricing. Stated that a terminal layout will be ready within a few days.

Nov 18, 2019 (Incoming): Connecting half cells in series with full cells is strongly discouraged. Cell and module tolerances provided (1.5mm and 3mm respectively)

Nov 19, 2019 (Outgoing): Attached a CAD model, terminal layouts and updated layout.

Nov 27, 2019 (Incoming): Initial quote from Wattlab of 21,400 Euros (~$32,672 CAD) excluding solar cells. Down payment of 50% required.

Dec 18, 2019 (Incoming): Follow-up from David about if we have considered their offer.

Dec 19, 2019 (Outgoing): Apology for delay in response and notified Wattlab that we will not be moving forward with them for the array.

Dec 19, 2019 (Incoming): David requests feedback and states that they are open to a sponsorship deal.

Dec 19, 2019 (Outgoing): Response detailing team concerns over array area and finances being the primary reasons for not going with Wattlab. Notified them that the team has already made a payment for an array and requested sponsorship details for the future.

Pricing and Discussions/Discounts

Wattlabs quote was 21,400 Euros (~$32,600 CAD) without a sponsorship discount.

Other

Files

Sept 9, 2019: Wattlab first counter-proposal

Nov 5, 2019: 6-5 Layout V1

Nov 19, 2019: Array Terminals and Layout