Kern 132 series. N-type TOPCon, bifacial, glass-glass.
Two 132-cell formats for Indian utility and C&I sites: Kern 132 G12 at 700–720 Wp for the most power per module, and Kern 132 G12R at 605–640 Wp in a narrower, lighter module. Both available in DCR and non-DCR variants.
What is inside a Kern module.
N-type TOPCon cells in a 132-cell layout, laminated between two 2.0 mm glass sheets, in an anodised aluminium frame with an IP68 junction box. AI-powered solar technology runs the length of the line: vision models read every EL and flash image in Indore, so a cell defect is caught at the station that made it.
Dual glass, not backsheet
Two glass faces resist moisture ingress, UV and abrasion far better than polymer backsheets, which is why the rear side can be warranted to generate for 30 years.
Multi-busbar TOPCon cells
The G12 format uses 18-busbar cells and the G12R format half-cut cells — both shorten the path the current travels and cut resistive loss, for high bifaciality and strong low-light response.
Low light-induced degradation
TOPCon cells on an N-type silicon substrate have low LID. First-year degradation is 1.0%, then 0.40% per year, backed by a 30-year performance warranty.
Specifications.
From the Kern 132 datasheets, by power class. Ask for the flash-test distribution of any lot before you order.
| Electrical (STC) | 700 | 705 | 710 | 715 | 720 |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| Maximum power, Pmax (Wp) | 700 | 705 | 710 | 715 | 720 |
| Module efficiency (%) | 22.53 | 22.70 | 22.86 | 23.02 | 23.18 |
| Voltage at Pmax, Vmp (V) | 40.5 | 40.7 | 40.9 | 41.1 | 41.3 |
| Current at Pmax, Imp (A) | 17.29 | 17.33 | 17.36 | 17.40 | 17.43 |
| Open-circuit voltage, Voc (V) | 48.2 | 48.4 | 48.6 | 48.8 | 49.0 |
| Short-circuit current, Isc (A) | 18.32 | 18.36 | 18.40 | 18.44 | 18.48 |
| Power tolerance | 0 to +5 W | ||||
| Electrical (NOCT) | |||||
| Maximum power, Pmax (Wp) | 534 | 538 | 542 | 546 | 550 |
| Voltage at Pmax, Vmp (V) | 37.8 | 38.0 | 38.2 | 38.4 | 38.6 |
| Current at Pmax, Imp (A) | 14.14 | 14.16 | 14.19 | 14.22 | 14.25 |
| Open-circuit voltage, Voc (V) | 45.7 | 45.9 | 46.1 | 46.3 | 46.5 |
| Short-circuit current, Isc (A) | 14.80 | 14.84 | 14.88 | 14.92 | 14.96 |
| Temperature | |||||
| NOCT | 45 °C (± 2 °C) | ||||
| Coefficient of Pmax | −0.30 %/°C | ||||
| Coefficient of Voc | −0.25 %/°C | ||||
| Coefficient of Isc | +0.04 %/°C | ||||
| Operating temperature | −40 °C to +85 °C | ||||
| Mechanical | |||||
| Solar cells | N-type TOPCon, multi-busbar (18 BB), 132 cells, G12 | ||||
| Dimensions | 2384 × 1303 × 33 mm | ||||
| Weight | 38 kg | ||||
| Front glass | 2.0 mm, anti-reflection coated | ||||
| Back glass | 2.0 mm, semi-tempered | ||||
| Encapsulation | POE / EPE | ||||
| Frame | Anodised aluminium alloy | ||||
| Junction box | IP68, 3 diodes | ||||
| Cable | Solar cable 4 mm², 300 mm or customised | ||||
| Connectors | MC4-compatible | ||||
| Maximum system voltage | 1500 V DC | ||||
| Bifaciality | 80 ± 5% | ||||
| Warranty | |||||
| Product / workmanship | 12 years | ||||
| Performance warranty | 30 years · 1% first year · 0.40% per year thereafter · 87.4% at year 30 | ||||
Designed for Indian sites, not test chambers.
Rajasthan heat, Gujarat salt, Punjab ammonia, Deccan dust. Each has a test, and each test has a margin built into the module.
Lower losses at 45 °C
With a Pmax temperature coefficient of −0.30 %/°C (Kern 132 G12) or −0.29 %/°C (Kern 132 G12R), a Kern module at 65 °C cell temperature retains roughly 88% of rated power, against about 86% for a PERC module. Across a year in central India that difference alone is worth more than a percent of yield.
Salt mist and humidity
Tested to IEC 61701 salt mist. Glass-glass laminates keep water vapour out of the encapsulant, the usual failure route for backsheet modules on the Gujarat and Tamil Nadu coasts.
Ammonia resistance
Tested to IEC 62716 for installations near livestock, fertiliser storage and agri-PV, including PM-KUSUM feeder-level plants.
Sand and dust
Tested to IEC 60068 sand and dust. The anti-reflection coated front glass helps light reach the cells on dusty sites.
Wind and snow loads
Tested to withstand 2400 Pa wind load and 5400 Pa snow load, with PID resistance tested to IEC 62804 for 1500 V DC systems.
Estimate the output.
A first-order estimate of annual generation and of the extra energy a Kern bifacial TOPCon array delivers against a PERC monofacial baseline. Use it to frame a conversation; our engineers will replace it with a PVsyst run for your site.
Illustrative model: PERC monofacial baseline at performance ratio 0.78; TOPCon adds ~2% from temperature behaviour and low LID; bifacial gain ≈ 0.32 × albedo for an open-rack array at ~1 m height with ~80% bifaciality. Real gains depend on row spacing, mounting height, tracker type and soiling. Not a warranty.
Certification, DCR and what to ask before you bid.
From 1 June 2026, projects under government schemes, net-metering and open access must use ALMM List-I modules built with ALMM List-II (domestic) cells. The cell question now decides which SKU you can use.
| Requirement | Kern status |
|---|---|
| IEC 61215 · IEC 61730 (design qualification and safety) | Certified |
| BIS | Approved |
| TÜV SÜD · Bureau Veritas | Approved |
| UL 61730 | Certified |
| PID · salt mist · ammonia · sand & dust | IEC 62804 · IEC 61701 · IEC 62716 · IEC 60068 |
| ALMM (MNRE) | ALMM compliant-ready |
| DCR (domestic cells) and non-DCR | Both available. DCR variant with ALMM List-II cells, subject to allocation; non-DCR variant for exempt, private and export projects |
| ISO 9001:2015 · ISO 14001:2015 · ISO 45001:2018 | Certified management systems |
Ask us these before you bid
Which SKU is DCR-compliant, and when?
List-I enlistment attaches to a model and a cell source. We will tell you exactly which power classes are DCR-eligible and the cell allocation we can commit to for your commissioning window.
What is the lot-level flash distribution?
We share the measured Pmax histogram of the lot you are buying, not just the nameplate. Tight distributions mean fewer mismatch losses per string.
Can you support the bankability review?
Yes: type-test reports, extended reliability data, factory audit access and a warranty backed by a group with ₹4,500 crore of revenue and 67 years of operating history.
Packing and logistics.
Indore sits on the western and central rail corridors and within a day's road haul of Gujarat, Maharashtra and Rajasthan project clusters.
| Kern 132 G12 (700–720 Wp) | 36 modules per pallet · 18 pallets · 648 modules per 40-ft HQ container (≈ 460 kWp at 710 Wp) |
|---|---|
| Kern 132 G12R (605–640 Wp) | 36 modules per box · 720 modules per 40-ft HC container (≈ 461 kWp at 640 Wp) |
Delivery planning
Lot allocation against a purchase order, weekly production schedule shared with the buyer, dispatch by rail or road with pallet-level serial manifests so site QA can reconcile receipts against the flash data.
Site support
Installation guidance for clamp zones, tracker torque tubes and cable management; EL inspection support during commissioning on request.
Who buys Kern.
Buyers who own the asset long enough to feel the difference between a good module and a cheap one.
Independent power producers
Utility-scale, FDRE and solar-plus-storage tenders where a percent of yield across 30 years moves the IRR more than a rupee per watt on day one.
EPC contractors
Tight power distribution, pallet-level traceability and a supplier who picks up the phone during commissioning — when the LD clock is running.
C&I and rooftop developers
Open-access and captive plants for factories and campuses, including the group's own manufacturing sites, where DCR compliance and roof-load limits both matter.
Datasheets and documents.
Request the current document set. We send it directly to your engineering team, with the revision date and the person to call about it.
Kern 132 G12 datasheet · 700–720 Wp
Electrical, mechanical and warranty data by power class.
Kern 132 G12R datasheet · 605–640 Wp
Electrical, mechanical and warranty data by power class.
Installation manual & warranty terms
Installation guidance and the full 12-year product and 30-year performance warranty terms.
Tell us the MWp and the postcode.
A Lumikern engineer will return an indicative offer, a delivery schedule and the DCR status for your commissioning date within two working days.