Düsseldorf / Hyderabad | June 22, 2026
PV module encapsulation is shifting decisively away from a one-size-fits-all approach toward solutions engineered for specific cell architectures, according to the 6th edition of the TaiyangNews Market Survey on Encapsulation Materials & Backsheets 2026.
As high-efficiency n-type architectures take over, encapsulation designs have become increasingly asymmetric and side-specific – a marked departure from the era when modules differed mainly by power rating.
The survey draws on responses from 15 companies, including one new entrant, covering 191 products – 109 encapsulation materials and 82 backsheets – with global coverage alongside a dedicated India perspective as the country emerges as the next manufacturing hub for solar modules after China.
Key Findings
· Technology-specific encapsulation is now the defining trend. Solutions are increasingly architecture-specific. For TOPCon, EPE/EVA is mainstream, with EPE/EPE preferred where high reliability is required, and pure POE chosen when reliability is the top priority. BC follows a similar logic but with thinner films on the front and reactively thicker films on the rear.
· Designs have turned asymmetric and side-specific. Thickness – measured in grams per square meter (GSM) – is the key cost lever. TOPCon films range from 400-420 GSM, with aggressive manufacturers already at 380 GSM; BC modules use roughly 300 GSM on the front while the rear mirrors TOPCon.
· EPE has overtaken EVA as the leading category. The sandwiched EVA-POE-EVA (EPE) structure now holds a 45% global share, up from 40% for EVA, and has seen the strongest growth in recent years. Total demand for encapsulation film exceeded 5 billion m² annually.
· Tandems are entering the picture. Alongside TOPCon, HJT, and BC, the industry is piloting perovskite-silicon tandems, in which encapsulation currently relies on thermoplastic polyolefins as manufacturers explore additional options.
· Backsheets are declining sharply. With glass the preferred rear cover for n-type modules, the backsheet segment is contracting. CPC leads globally as a configuration, while PVDF is favored in India. Backsheets retain niches in hail-prone areas, lightweight and BC modules, and select rooftop installations – and a few makers are repurposing polymer as a front sheet to replace front glass.
Quotes
“There is no alternative to encapsulation today – every module produced needs a pair of films – so this market scales directly with global production. What is changing is the engineering: the days of a single universal film are over, and material choices are now made architecture by architecture, and even side by side within a module,” said Michael Schmela, Managing Director of TaiyangNews.
“The most striking shift this year is how specific the solutions have become – EPE/EVA for TOPCon, thinner stacks for BC, thermoplastic polyolefins for tandems, and continual optimization of GSM to take out cost. At the same time, backsheets are losing ground to glass, yet finding smart second lives, including as front sheets,” said Shravan Chunduri, Head of Technology at TaiyangNews.
TaiyangNews – All About Solar is a global online solar news platform focused on technology. We offer comprehensive coverage of market trends, technology advancements, and policy developments on our website and through regular online conferences and reports, empowering our audience to make informed decisions in the ever-evolving solar energy landscape.
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