Yingli Solar, a Chinese photovoltaic (PV) manufacturer and smart energy solution provider, has started batch shipment of its zinc-aluminum-magnesium steel-frame PV modules for a 180 MW ecological restoration solar project in Shizuishan, Ningxia. 

The project is located in a harsh Gobi environment with strong wind and sand, large day-night temperature differences, and significant saline-alkali and salt-spray corrosion risks.

The modules use large-format bifacial double-glass construction together with an integrated Zn-Al-Mg steel-frame solution. Compared with conventional aluminum frames, the steel-frame approach is designed to provide higher structural strength while benefiting from the corrosion resistance of Zn-Al-Mg coating.

The project is another practical example of steel replacing aluminum in PV module frames, especially for utility-scale solar projects operating in desert, saline-alkali, and other demanding outdoor environments.