Canadian Solar says its Low Carbon (LC) modules achieve 285 kg CO₂eq/kW, one of the lowest globally
The use of HJT cell technology and thinner wafers enables a reduction of energy consumption, use of silver, and carbon emissions per kWp
Innovations in ingot, wafer, and cell production lower carbon payback time by 11% compared to conventional n-type silicon-based modules
Canadian Solar has launched its next-generation Low Carbon (LC) modules that achieve a carbon footprint of 285 kg CO2eq/kW, claiming it to be one of the lowest among all silicon-based solar modules globally, advancing sustainable solar manufacturing.
Unveiled at RE+ 2025, these LC modules are based on heterojunction (HJT) technology, featuring up to 660 W of power output and 24.4% efficiency, and weigh 32.8 kg.
The Canada-based manufacturer says it achieved a lower carbon footprint for these modules through proprietary innovations in ingot, wafer, and cell technologies, which resulted in a nearly 20% increase in ingot utilization rate and a reduction in emissions of approximately 9.7% or 30 kg CO2 per kWp.
Reducing wafer thickness to 110 µm, compared to 130–135 µm in TOPCon/BC cells, the company was able to reduce the use of silver and carbon emissions by 4.5%–5.5% or 14–19 kg CO2 per kWp.
At the cell level, Canadian Solar says the use of HJT cell technology cut the production steps to 4 as opposed to 10 to 12 steps for TOPCon/BC solar cells. It also achieved a lower operating temperature of <230°C compared to the usual 960°C–1050°C, thus reducing energy consumption by 4.2%–5.7% or 14–21 kg CO2 per kWp.
Canadian Solar adds that the total energy consumption for the entire LC module production is around 105.62 MWh/MW. This represents an energy saving of 8.8% to 10.7%, compared to TOPCon and BC module production.
“Altogether, these improvements shorten the carbon payback time of Canadian Solar's LC modules by approximately 11%, compared to conventional N-type silicon-based modules available today,” adds the manufacturer.
Designed for utility-scale and commercial and industrial (C&I) applications, the new modules have been commercially available since August 2025. The company is offering a 15-year enhanced product warranty and a 30-year linear power output warranty on these modules.
TaiyangNews will host the 3rd edition of its Solar & Sustainability 2025 Conference on October 9, 2025, to explore sustainability practices in the PV industry. Registrations for the virtual conference are free and can be done here.