Chinese Solar Giants Compete in Efficiency Race as Aiko Boosts Mass Production

JA Solar, Jinko, Trina, and LONGi Compete in Efficiency Race as Aiko Accelerates Mass Production
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In June, China’s top photovoltaic (PV) module manufacturers entered a new phase of competition, showcasing their advanced research and development capabilities. Companies such as Trina Solar, Jinko, LONGi, and JA Solar aimed to outdo one another with record-breaking achievements.

On June 10, JA Solar announced that its n-type TOPCon module had achieved a remarkable conversion efficiency of 25.5%, with front-side power output exceeding 700W. Just two weeks later, Jinko Solar revealed that its subsidiary, Zhejiang Jinko, had independently developed an n-type TOPCon high-efficiency PV module boasting a peak conversion efficiency of 25.58%, thereby surpassing JA Solar’s previous world record.

In response, JA Solar stated that it would continue to push the boundaries of technological competition. The company has set a structured plan for enhancing cell and module efficiency, targeting annual increases of at least 0.6% for cell efficiency and 0.5% for module efficiency.

Trina Solar has also made significant progress in setting world records for TOPCon cell and module conversion efficiencies. Last November, the company announced that its high-efficiency n-type bifacial i-TOPCon cell achieved a certified peak efficiency of 26.58%. This year, Trina Solar has focused on innovative tandem technology, announcing in June that its perovskite/c-Si shingled module reached a conversion efficiency of 30.6% and a power output of 829W, both of which broke previous world records. Specifically, a lab shingled module measuring 1185cm² achieved an efficiency of 30.6%, making Trina Solar the first company globally to exceed the 30% efficiency threshold for shingled modules. At the SNEC expo, the company further announced that this module had achieved a power output of 841.5W, setting yet another world record.

While the theoretical efficiency limit for a disruptive technological leap stands at 28.7%, with 27% being achievable in mass production, TOPCon cells currently hover around 27% efficiency. With advancements in passivation technology, further increases beyond 28% may soon be possible. However, achieving such breakthroughs will require the integration of tandem technology.

Jinko’s latest TOPCon module has set a new world record with an efficiency increase of 0.08%. According to Jin Hao, the company integrated several key innovations at the module level, including encapsulant patterning, super multi-busbar (SMBB) designs, and reflective films, contributing to a module conversion efficiency of 25.58%. TOPCon technology is currently the dominant path in the N-type PV era, with JA Solar, Jinko, and Trina Solar focusing on this approach, while LONGi and Aiko Solar primarily advocate for back-contact (BC) technology.

LONGi has also announced competitive breakthroughs, including a self-developed large-area (260.9cm²) c-Si-perovskite tandem solar cell certified by the U.S. National Renewable Energy Laboratory (NREL) to have a conversion efficiency of 33%, thus setting a new global record. Additionally, the efficiency of its BC modules has surpassed 26%. These achievements were documented in the 66th edition of the Solar Cell Efficiency Tables.

While higher conversion efficiencies can reduce power plant system investment costs and the levelized cost of electricity (LCOE), world records are generally established with lab-developed products. Challenges in ensuring the reliability of high-efficiency modules and managing manufacturing costs remain hurdles to scaling these technologies for mass production.

The PV industry is currently experiencing concurrent advancements across various technological routes, intensifying competition among firms. Aiko Solar is among those accelerating the transition from lab-developed innovations to mass production, aiming to shorten product iteration cycles. Aiko Solar’s chairman, Chen Gang, highlighted that the company’s n-type ABC (all back contact) modules prioritize tangible mass-production efficiency. During the June SNEC Expo, Aiko launched its full-screen module, achieving field efficiency exceeding 25%. Mass production is scheduled for the fourth quarter of this year, and Aiko has maintained the top rank in global mass-production module efficiency for 17 consecutive months, with a 1% absolute efficiency advantage over competing technologies.

Chen Gang emphasized that the successful mass adoption of new technologies relies on three critical factors: technical feasibility, quality excellence, and cost-effectiveness. He elaborated that during the mass production of Aiko Solar’s ABC technology, the team developed several key low-cost, high-volume manufacturing technologies, including innovations in cell architecture, patterning, and silver-free metallization.

Looking ahead, Chen Gang noted that tandem and perovskite technologies face significant challenges in achieving reliable high-volume production in the near term. He urged scientists and PV experts to explore alternative technologies, such as photon multiplication, photon recycling, and silicon-silicon tandem cells, to ultimately reach the ideal goal: achieving the Carnot limit efficiency of 95%.