Trina Solar sets 21.25% multicrystalline cell efficiency record

Facebook
Twitter
LinkedIn
Reddit
Email

Updated: Leading PV manufacturer Trina Solar has set a new world record conversion efficiency for p-type multicrystalline silicon (mc-Si) solar cells.

Developed and produced at its State Key Laboratory of PV Science and Technology of China, Trina Solar said that the record total-area efficiency of 21.25% on standard 156×156mm substrates was achieved using advanced ‘Honey Plus’ processing technologies including back surface passivation and local back surface field on volume production equipment.  

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

Dr. Pierre Verlinden, vice president and chief scientist of Trina Solar said: “To the best of our knowledge, this is the first time ever that a multicrystalline silicon solar cell has been able to achieve a conversion efficiency of over 21%. This exciting result shows that the development path toward higher efficiencies continues to be bright, even for silicon. Our aim is to continuously integrate innovative technological developments to improve the efficiency and lower the cost of our PV products. This technology advancement in efficiency will strengthen our leadership in the PV industry and allow us to continue providing affordable solar power to the world.”

Trina Solar noted that the record cell efficiences had been independently confirmed by the Fraunhofer ISE CalLab in Germany.

The company had previously set the record at 20.76% in late 2014.

Finlay Colville, head of Solar Intelligence at PV Tech’s publisher Solar Media commented: “The continued efficiency gains being made by p-type multi cells are potentially moving the industry into a different regime when contrasting the end-market possibilities for n-type and p-type mono and multi.

Several years ago, many industry observers were citing the commercial efficiency limits of p-type multi being well below the 20% level. While the transition from R&D to mass production and high yield remains a different challenge, Trina is coming at the efficiency announcement angle already having multi GW of p-type cell capacity. This suggests the R&D announcements from Trina are potentially of more significant than those reported from the likes of SolarCity for n-type in the past few weeks,” added Colville.

According to Colville, underpinning the new record for p-type multicrystalline solar cells has been the continued quality improvements of multicrystalline wafers that have helped pushed standard 60-cell multicrystalline panels from 240W to 260W in recent years. 

“Ultimately, the key indicator for Trina will not emerge for another twelve months, and will be evident through its module offerings, when using in-house cell supply as a benchmark. Beyond this, future evolution of p-type multi may come back to cost reduction and not efficiency improvements, similar to SunPower's technology evolution in the past ten years. When this starts to impact on p-type multi in volume manufacturing, it could in fact signify the long awaiting shift to 100 micron wafers, but this is probably still 3-5 years out for p-type producers like Trina,” noted Colville.

7 October 2025
San Francisco Bay Area, USA
PV Tech has been running an annual PV CellTech Conference since 2016. PV CellTech USA, on 7-8 October 2025 is our third PV CellTech conference dedicated to the U.S. manufacturing sector. The events in 2023 and 2024 were a sell out success and 2025 will once again gather the key stakeholders from PV manufacturing, equipment/materials, policy-making and strategy, capital equipment investment and all interested downstream channels and third-party entities. The goal is simple: to map out PV manufacturing in the U.S. out to 2030 and beyond.

Read Next

Premium
July 2, 2025
ANALYSIS: China's leading PV manufacturers are locked in a new round of competition, aiming to outpace each other through record-breaking feats.
June 26, 2025
International researchers led by King Abdullah University of Science and Technology (KAUST) have developed a new cooling technology that improves the power and longevity of solar cells.
June 26, 2025
A group of minority shareholders in Norwegian silicon firm REC Silicon has triggered an investigation into the circumstances surrounding the closure of the company’s US polysilicon production site.
June 24, 2025
Chinese solar manufacturing giant LONGi has signed an agreement with Indonesia’s Pertamina New & Renewable Energy to build a 1.4GW module assembly plant in West Java, Indonesia.
June 24, 2025
The Chinese polysilicon industry could face a shortage by 2028, despite persistent overcapacity in recent years, according to polysilicon market analyst Bernreuter Research.

Subscribe to Newsletter

Upcoming Events

Media Partners, Solar Media Events
September 2, 2025
Mexico City, Mexico
Solar Media Events
September 16, 2025
Athens, Greece
Solar Media Events
September 22, 2025
Bilbao, Spain
Solar Media Events
September 30, 2025
Seattle, USA
Solar Media Events
October 1, 2025
London, UK