Longi, a specialist in solar technology, has unveiled its portfolio of scenario-based photovoltaic products for the next generation of utility-scale projects
Centred on Longi’s flagship high-efficiency Back Contact (BC) technology platform, the expanded Hi-MO 9 series introduces four variants tailored to specific environmental conditions: Ice-shield, Sea-shield, Edge, and Hydro Clear.
As global deployment ramps up, developers are facing extreme weather conditions and land constraints. Longi’s new portfolio provides targeted structural and material enhancements to ensure long-term asset security, maximise power generation, and reduce operational expenditure (O&M) acrss diverse deployment environments.
Four specialised Hi-MO 9 Solutions
Hi-MO 9 Ice-Shield
Developed for regions prone to violent hailstorms and extreme winds, the Hi-MO 9 Ice-Shield module addresses a blind spot in standard international IEC test requirements. Standard testing relies on 25mm impacts, despite historical data revealing that over 30% of hail events exceed this size, posing structural risks to conventional stations.
The Ice-Shield incorporates Longi’s 16% stronger TaiRay silicon wafers to help enhance cell-level resistance to micro-cracking, and features a 3.2mm-thickened front glass, enabling it to withstand hail impacts of up to 55mm, improving overall impact resistance by 4.5x and reducing glass breakage by 70%.
The module can reduce cell edge stress by 48% compared to TOPCon alternatives due to its high-strength aluminium alloy frame with a 270 MPa yield strength, highly reliable BC cell “one-line” welding, and OBB structure. It can support a heavy ±5400Pa fixed load on brackets and ±3600Pa on mainstream tracking systems.
Hi-MO 9 Seal-Shield
As coastal population centres seek to alleviate land scarcity, offshore PV is expanding. However, solar systems in marine environments are subject to salt corrosion, wave impacts and high wind speeds.
The Sea-Shield module uses a molecular-level passivated frame with a weather-resistant anodised film that has passed the Grade 8 salt spray test, confirming its durability for offshore C5 and CX corrosive environments.
The module can pair with an anti-corrosion frame, a sealed junction box, and connectors designed to prevent edge penetration and salt crystallisation. Encapsulated with a low-water-vapour-transmission dual-POE formula for superior PID and ageing resistance. Glass with the special film has a denser structure and a completely sealed surface for enhanced resistance.
To help counteract wave forces and high wind loads, a high-load design combining bolt-sand pressure blocks is utilised for double protection. The maximum wind speed the front side of the module can withstand is 65.1 m/s.
Hi-MO 9 Edge
Developed for environments exposed to high winds, sub-zero temperatures, and sandstorms, the Hi-MO 9 Edge product places strong emphasis on structural reinforcement and environmental compliance, making it ready for European tender markets.
The Edge features a patented high-strength steel frame that provides a 150% boost in material strength and a 25% increase in wind load capacity. The result is a basic load warranty of 6000/3000Pa that helps eliminate frame tearing in high-wind regions.
Removing the frame obstructions on the C-side allows the rear side to receive 2.5% more light, resulting in a 2% gain in bifacial rate. Additionally, the Side A frame profile is over 20% lower than standard modules, allowing dust and snow to slide off.
Using a steel-based frame lowers carbon emissions by 70% compared to a typical aluminium frame, helping developers to meet sustainability requirements such as the EU’s Carbon Border Adjustment Mechanism (CBAM).
The Edge’s plug-in, grounding-free design cuts out equipotential bonding between modules. Simulations of a 100MW ground-mounted PV plant demonstrate a reduction of 152,000 grounding wires and 1,689 hours of installation time, providing developers with labour savings.
Hi-MO 9 Hydro Clear
Dust and snow accumulation pose challenges which undermine module efficiency and threaten the long-term operational stability of PV power plants. Cleaning modules covered by dust and snow incurs high costs and presents difficulties and risks. Longi’s Hydro Clear module offers a solution to boost energy yield, reduce O&M costs, and mitigate various risks, helping ensure long-term, stable operation of utility-scale PV power plants.
The short-edge frame sits flush with the front glass, eliminating the standard A-side where dust and snow tend to accumulate, reducing bottom dust build-up and enabling snow to slide off more easily.
By adopting Longi’s HPBC 2.0 technology, Hydro Clear has excellent low-irradiation performance and a strong tolerance to uneven light irradiation. Combined with an innovative frame design and enhanced anti-shading capability, it provides a monthly average power-generation gain of over 2%.
By enabling dust and snow to slide away easily under natural wind and gravity, preventing the formation of mud belt and uneven load risks caused by stagnant snowmelt, O&M costs and related risks are effectively decreased.
