Panasonic sets module efficiency record of 23.8%

Facebook
Twitter
LinkedIn
Reddit
Email
The new record is a full 1% improvement on the previous record. Source: Panasonic.

Panasonic claims to have set a new module efficiency record of 23.8%, a full percentage point higher than the previous record c-Si record.

The company announced a cell conversion efficiency of 25.6% in its silicon heterojunction cells in April 2014 and now claims to hold both the cell and module records.

This article requires Premium SubscriptionBasic (FREE) Subscription

Unlock unlimited access for 12 whole months of distinctive global analysis

Photovoltaics International is now included.

  • Regular insight and analysis of the industry’s biggest developments
  • In-depth interviews with the industry’s leading figures
  • Unlimited digital access to the PV Tech Power journal catalogue
  • Unlimited digital access to the Photovoltaics International journal catalogue
  • Access to more than 1,000 technical papers
  • Discounts on Solar Media’s portfolio of events, in-person and virtual

Or continue reading this article for free

The milestone has been achieved at research, not commercial production level and was authenticated by Japan’s National Institute of Advanced Industrial Science and Technology (AIST).

A previous round of efficiency records in October 2015 saw SolarCity’s Silevo technology trumped by Panasonic before SunPower weighed in pointing out that its technology was available now while its rivals were touting the records of innovations that aren’t yet available.

At the time, Panasonic’s Daniel Roca responded saying: “Put it this way, in R&D, if I’m a car manufacturer and I go to a show with a 500 mile range prototype EV, I’m not going to sell it at that trade show but I will still show it off! So it is a game, but we are all playing fair. The SunPower one that got the record was also not the same size as the commercial module. But of course SunPower has the highest efficiency module in commercial mass production, we never said any different.”

Panasonic has also pledged to continue developing its HIT technology to improve efficiency and move improvements from lab to fab.

Last month the manufacturer reportedly suspended one-third of its HIT manufacturing capacity citing low domestic demand.

Read Next

Premium
June 9, 2025
N-type polysilicon prices have dropped to RMB34,000/ton as the project installation rush ends, putting cost pressure on the industrial chain.
June 9, 2025
Saatvik Solar, a unit of Saatvik Green Energy Limited (SGEL), is building a 4.8GW solar cell and 4GW module manufacturing facility in Ganjam district of Odisha.
June 9, 2025
Growing political headwinds threaten to dent US solar manufacturing and project deployment, despite a strong start to 2025.
June 5, 2025
Solar manufacturer Involt Energy has broken ground on its first solar cell manufacturing plant in the western Indian state of Gujarat, with an initial annual nameplate capacity of 1.78GW. 
June 5, 2025
Indian solar module manufacturer Vikram Solar has received final approval from the Securities and Exchange Board of India (SEBI) to proceed with its initial public offering (IPO) and raise capital through the public markets.
June 4, 2025
Chinese PV module manufacturer Haitai Solar has announced the termination of a 10GW TOPCon and the reallocation of investment to fund an Indonesian facility.

Subscribe to Newsletter

Upcoming Events

Solar Media Events
June 17, 2025
Napa, USA
Upcoming Webinars
June 30, 2025
10am PST / 6pm BST
Solar Media Events
July 1, 2025
London, UK
Solar Media Events
July 1, 2025
London, UK
Solar Media Events
September 16, 2025
Athens, Greece