Düsseldorf / Hyderabad | May 5, 2026: TaiyangNews has released its Solar Technology Trends Report, a comprehensive analysis of the current state and forward trajectory of photovoltaic technology across the full value chain, from silicon to module assembly.
Key Findings:
TOPCon, heterojunction (HJT), and back-contact (BC) technologies are no longer evolving in isolation – cross-architectural borrowing is accelerating, most visibly in structures like LONGi's HIBC cell
Performance gains are increasingly driven at the module level, with multi-cut designs delivering 5 to 10 W of additional output per module
Silver reduction is a common thread across all 3 architectures, with silver-coated copper pastes and alternative metallization stacks gaining ground
Gapless layouts and full-area designs are emerging as universal efficiency levers across TOPCon, HJT, and BC
From Silicon to Module: Progress Across the Value Chain
At the silicon level, GCL's FBR process – based on granular silicon – is gaining traction alongside dominant Siemens technology, driven by its lower processing temperature and reduced carbon footprint. In crystal growth, RCZ is emerging as the mainstream approach, with CCZ under evaluation. Wafer specifications are increasingly dictated by downstream cell technologies such as heterojunction (HJT), TOPCon, and back-contact (BC), in the same order as their wafer-quality tolerances.
TOPCon is transitioning from full-area passivated contacts to selective polysilicon fingers on the rear side – removing the polysilicon layer from non-contacted areas significantly reduces parasitic light absorption. Edge passivation, while a cell-level process, unlocks multi-cut module layouts, making its impact most visible at the module level.
HJT continues its push toward thinner wafers, with ~110 µm emerging as a practical choice. Thin oxide layers are contributing to improved current generation, and silver-coated copper pastes are driving meaningful progress on metallization costs. Indium reduction in TCO layers remains an active area of development.
BC technology is evolving rapidly. LONGi's Hybrid Interdigitated Back Contact (HIBC) cell – a strategic fusion of TOPCon-like and HJT technologies, each used for a different polarity on the rear side – is the most structurally significant development. AIKO has developed silver-free copper metallization, and improving bifaciality in BC cells is drawing increasing attention.
At the module level, multi-cut designs are gaining prominence – 3 to 4 slices cut from fully processed cells reduce resistance losses and improve power by approximately 5 to 10 W, with TOPCon currently benefiting most. Zero-busbar (0BB) remains a key focus in the BC stream.
________________________________________________________________________
Quotes
"This report makes it clear that PV technology is no longer a race between competing architectures – it is a parallel evolution, where each technology is borrowing from the others and advancing on multiple fronts simultaneously. That is a sign of a maturing industry, and it makes the next phase of progress particularly interesting to watch."
- Michael Schmela, Managing Director, TaiyangNews
"The defining shift in this report is that performance gains are no longer the domain of the cell. Multi-cut designs, gapless layouts, full-area configurations – the module is doing meaningful work now. At the same time, the idea of 3 distinct, competing architectures is becoming harder to sustain. When a structure like LONGi's HIBC fuses TOPCon-like and HJT principles on the same rear side, the boundaries are not just blurring – they are being deliberately crossed."
- Shravan Chunduri, Head of Technology, TaiyangNews
________________________________________________________________________
Download the report: https://taiyangnews.info/reports/taiyangnews-cell-module-technology-trends-2026
________________________________________________________________________
For media inquiries, briefings, or interview requests, please contact:
Meena Nair
Marketing Communications Manager
Meena.Nair@taiyangnews.info
________________________________________________________________________
About TaiyangNews
TaiyangNews – All About Solar is a global online solar news platform with a focus 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.
Stay connected with TaiyangNews:
Website: www.taiyangnews.info
Newsletter: https://tinyurl.com/332dnyaw