Silicon Module Super League (SMSL) member LONGi Solar, a subsidiary of LONGi Green Energy Technology, the largest monocrystalline wafer producer in the world, has reported that TUV-SUD has verified its 60-cell P-type monocrystalline PERC module to have a conversion efficiency of 20.83% – yet another new industry record.
LONGi said that this is the fourth time this year that it had renewed its world record in module efficiency. For example, PV Tech previously reported that the firm had hit 20.41% conversion efficiency on this module technology back in January.
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The China-based firm had also reached a world record conversion efficiency for a P-type monocrystalline PERC solar cell of 23.6%, certified by CPVT in China in February 2018.
In May this year, LONGi hit a record 20.66% P-type mono bifacial shingled cell module efficiency, and in April, it took its 120-cell half-cut monocrystalline PERC solar module to exceed 360W, another record. It even broke the industry record on R&D spending in 2017.
The company said that all of its cell production lines are to be upgraded to PERC to fully meet global market demand for next generation high-efficiency PERC products.
Dr. Lv Jun, vice president of LONGi Solar, said: “LONGi Solar has been exploring the value of PERC products in recent years and keeps pushing the boundaries of PERC technology so as to further improve the cost performance. The new breakthrough of module conversion efficiency this time further proves the development headroom of PERC. We firmly believe PERC will play greater technical possibility in the next three years to effectively improve power generation efficiency and reliability of photovoltaic system, lower LCOE and bring higher benefits for customers.”
Tang Xuhui, VP, LONGi Solar also recently told PV Tech that the cost of solar technology is no longer a barrier to PV reaching grid parity in China, but soft costs related to grid integration, land and taxation were now the main obstacles for the sector.