Emiliano Bellini
Researchers warn of ‘hidden contaminants’ that could increase TOPCon, HJT solar module humidity-induced degradation
Australian researchers have identified five contaminants that could increase damp heat-induced degradation in TOPCon and heterojunction cells and modules. Their analysis has shown these contaminants could originate from improper handling during cell or module processing.
Danish startup launches solar tile for pitched roofs
Solartag has developed a 71 W solar tile with a weight 14.2 kg/m² and a power conversion efficiency of 16%. The new product relies on black PERC cells and is standardized for mass production, according to the manufacturer.
Silver-lean screen-printing can reduce silver use in TOPCon solar cells by 40%
An international research team has developed a metallization technique for TOPCon solar cells that can reportedly reduce silver usage in the devices’ rear side by 85%. The scientists replaced the commonly used Ag fingers with intermittent Ag dashes for contact formation and Ag-free fingers and busbars for electrical conduction.
Longi launches residential heterojunction back-contact solar module with 25% efficiency
Longi has developed the Hi-MO S10, a residential heterojunction (HJT) back-contact solar module with 25% efficiency, combining 27.6%-efficient cells with up to 510 W output and 252.3 W/m² power density.
Jolywood’s laser-assisted firing process increases TOPCon solar cell efficiency by 0.6%, says UNSW research
New research from the University of New South Wales have found that the Special Injected Metallization (JSIM) technique developed by Chinese manufacturer Jolywood can considerably increase TOPCon solar cell efficiency. The scientists described precisely how laser-assisted firing enhances cell performance, reportedly filling critical gaps in industrial TOPCon cell optimization.
Is solar really the root cause of Spain’s massive power outage?
Some media outlets have speculated that Spain’s April 28 blackout may have been caused by a disconnected solar plant, but DNV grid analyst Andrea Mansoldo tells pv magazine that it was likely due to a combination of grid weakness and low-frequency oscillations.
Longi achieves 34.85% efficiency for two-terminal tandem perovskite solar cell
The result was confirmed by the U.S. Department of Energy’s National Renewable Energy Laboratory (NREL).
Global solar module shipments hit 703 GW in 2024
The new edition of the International Technology Roadmap for Photovoltaic (ITRPV), published this week, reports that average PV module prices last year dropped by 33% compared to the end of 2023.
International PV module pricing may rise to $0.11/W by year end
International PV module prices, driven by Chinese averages, will likely rise from $0.08/W to $0.10/W today to $0.11/W by the end of 2025 and potentially $0.13/W by 2027, says Clean Energy Associates (CEA), noting that heterojunction and back-contact technologies now make up 12% of global module capacity.
Canadian Solar unveils 630 W anti-hail TOPCon PV panel
The Chinese manufacturer said its new bifacial module features a thicker 35 mm frame and 2.5 mm fully tempered glass on both sides. It has a power conversion efficiency of 23.3% and a temperature coefficient of -0.29%/C.
