LONGi Solar has set a new record conversion efficiency for an n-type monocrystalline bifacial TOPCon cell of 25.09%.
The company said the achievement, independently verified by the Institute for Solar Energy Research in Hamelin, represents the first time that the efficiency of a TOPCon cell based on a commercial size silicon wafer has exceeded 25%.
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The announcement comes months after JinkoSolar set a conversion efficiency record of 24.90% for its N-type TOPCon monocrystalline silicon solar cell.
“We are aiming to promote continuous upgrading of the PV industry, achieving higher efficiency and more sustainability,” said Li Hua, vice president and head of the cell R&D center of LONGi Solar, adding: “Improving cell conversion efficiency is the main channel for PV technology development.”
Between 2012 and 2020, LONGi invested almost RMB8 billion (US$1.2 billion) in research and development, helping it to accumulate a total of 1,001 patents. In January 2019, the company achieved 24.06% front conversion efficiency for a monocrystalline bifacial PERC solar cell, a record that still stands.
Last year saw LONGi Solar set a new industry shipment record to become the world’s largest PV manufacturer for the first time. Its total module shipments for 2020 reached 24.53GW, driven by its performance in the second half of the year, when external sales topped 17GW.
