Over the 2-year period, the share of modules above 22.5% efficiency increased from 16% in January 2024 to 47% by December 2025, with the product count rising from 9 to 21
Many of the increases within this band resulted from manufacturers improving existing products to higher efficiency levels, especially during peak update periods such as mid-2025 and year-end
Most new entrants and upgrades into the >22.5% efficiency category were based on BC and TOPCon technologies, with HJT representation also expanding toward the end of 2025
As discussed in our previous article, for clearer analysis and easier interpretation of the data, products in the TOP SOLAR MODULES list are grouped into four efficiency bands: above 22.5%, 22.0%-22.5%, 21.7%-22.0%, and 21.5%-21.7% (see Module Efficiency Developments By Efficiency Band).
During H2 2025, the highest efficiency band of >22.5% expanded steadily, growing from 18 products with a 36% share in July to 21 products with a 47% share by the end of the year. This band significantly increased its share from 16% to 47% over a 2-year period from 2024 to 2025.
In July 2025, changes within this efficiency band were driven exclusively by internal efficiency upgrades, with no new product additions. JinkoSolar significantly raised the efficiency of its TOPCon module from 22.65% to 23.32%. In the same month, Astronergy further improved the efficiency of its TOPCon modules by 0.1%, from 23% to 23.1%. Despite these upgrades, the total number of products remained unchanged at 18. However, due to a reduction in the overall number of listed modules, the share of this band increased to 36%.
In August 2025, there were no internal efficiency upgrades or new product entries in this band. In September 2025, 2 modules entered this band. DAS Solar recorded a significant improvement in module efficiency from 22.5% to 23.1%, which also pushed the company’s representation into the highest-efficiency band. The other new entrant to this band, DAH Solar, also debuted on the TOP SOLAR MODULES list with a 23.02% efficiency module. Thus, the number of products in the >22.5% band increased to 20, and its share rose to 39%. Astronergy and JA Solar improving their efficiencies to 23.3% from 23.1% and 23.2%, respectively, were the other notable updates in September.
During October 2025, this band further strengthened its representation. JinkoSolar improved the efficiency of its TOPCon module from 23.32% to 23.51%. At the same time, both DMEGC Solar and JA Solar raised their respective module efficiencies to 23.5%. Trinasolar also upgraded its module efficiency from 23% to 23.2%. While these are intra-band upgrades, Canadian Solar entered this band by improving the efficiency of its TOPCon module from 22.5% to 22.6%. As a result of this addition, the >22.5% efficiency band expanded further in October, reaching 21 products and increasing its share to 43%.
In November 2025, the band’s composition changed following the delisting of Maxeon’s long-standing BC module. This reduced the product count within the band by one. Despite this removal, the band's overall share remained unaffected, as the reduction in the total number of listed modules offset the loss in this category. During the same month, Trinasolar recorded a significant efficiency improvement, upgrading its module from 23.2% to 23.7%.
December 2025 concluded the year with the most significant set of efficiency developments within this band. A major milestone was achieved when AIKO further commercialized its BC module, raising the efficiency to 24.8%. The Comet 3N72 module replaced the long-standing Comet 2U module, while the module configuration remained unchanged. LONGi also improved the efficiency of its BC module from 24.2% to 24.7% using its upgraded BC technology under the EcoLife brand. JinkoSolar further improved its TOPCon module efficiency from 23.51% to 23.69%, marking the highest-efficiency TOPCon module listed in TOP SOLAR MODULES. GCL SI also raised its module efficiency from 22.53% to 23.5%. The early developer of n-type technology and TOPCon, Jolywood, also increased the efficiency of its TOPCon products after nearly 3 years, from 22.53% to 23.2%. While these are still upgrades within the same band, one company – Risen – entered this efficiency band for the first time. The company upgraded the efficiency of its HJT module from 22.5% to 23.5%. As a result, the >22.5% efficiency band reached its highest representation to date, closing December 2025 with 21 products and a 47% share.
In H1 2025, this category saw moderate but consistent growth. It started the year with 15 products, accounting for 30% of the market in January, compared to 28% in December 2024. Although no new modules were added to this band that month, this increase was as a result of a reduction in the total number of listed products. It remained at this level until April 2025.
Some changes within this band, however, were not reflected in the product count. In March, 3 improvements took place, with LONGi making the most significant development. The company increased the efficiency of its best commercial BC module by 0.9% in one stretch. It also provided proof of commercialization for modules based on its HPBC 2.0 technology with an efficiency of 24.1%, replacing the earlier 23.2% product. The other 2 improvements came from Astronergy and DMEGC Solar, both of which joined the 23% club. Astronergy increased the efficiency of its TOPCon module from 22.9%, while DMEGC Solar made a slightly higher leap from 22.8%. In May, Trinasolar’s module moved into this band, improving the share to 32%. Trinasolar achieved a considerable single-step improvement of 0.5% by raising the top efficiency of its commercial TOPCon module from 22.5% to 23%, adding one more member to the 23% group.
June brought a wave of activity to the TOP SOLAR MODULES listing. A new entrant, Jetion Solar, debuted with a module in this efficiency band, while GCL also joined the ranks, bringing the total count to 18 and raising the segment’s share to 35%. But beyond the numbers, several notable improvements were introduced in the June edition. With the world’s largest PV trade show scheduled for June, many companies appeared to have reserved their innovations for this moment – reflected in the 6 changes featured in this update.
Once again, AIKO stole the spotlight by breaking its own record, providing proof of commercialization for its 24.4% efficiency module. LONGi followed suit, bumping the efficiency of its HPBC module from 24.1% to 24.2% – AIKO’s level previously. Huasun also earned a mention by launching its most powerful commercial HJT module to date, rated at 730 W with 23.5% efficiency – up from its earlier 23.18%. Another highlight in the HJT segment came from Jetion, which, for the first time, provided proof of commercialization for its HJT modules. Its top offering boasts an efficiency of 22.9% and a power rating of 710 W, making it the first new HJT entrant to the list since October. TOPCon also saw a new benchmark in June: JA Solar raised the efficiency of its top commercial module to 23.2% – a new high for the technology in our listing at the time. GCL SI entered this band by improving the efficiency of its TOPCon module from 22.3% to 22.53%.
During 2024, the >22.5% efficiency band saw its product count increase from 9 in January to 15 in December, while its share rose from 16% to 28%. The first change occurred in February, when Tongwei Solar increased the efficiency of its TOPCon product from 22.5% to 22.8% to secure a unique double representation in this band, alongside its HJT module. At this level, Tongwei’s TOPCon module shared space with SPIC’s BC module, which was listed at this level since September 2023. The very next month, in March, Astronergy – already part of this club – improved the efficiency of its modules to 22.8%, increasing the number of companies listed at this level to 3, along with Tongwei Solar and SPIC. In April, DMEGC Solar entered this efficiency band with a TOPCon module achieving 22.6% efficiency. As a result, the number of products in the band increased to 11. May 2024 saw the most significant advancements: not only did AIKO introduce a module with an even higher efficiency of 24.2%, but another BC leader, Maxeon, also commercialized a 24.1% module. This was the first time that the TOP SOLAR MODULES listing featured 2 commercially available modules with over 24% efficiency.
The pace picked up in the second half. In July 2024, JA Solar and REC each added a module to this band, raising the total to 13 and lifting the share to23%. JA Solar increased its module’s efficiency from 22.5% to 22.8%, while REC improved its HJT module's efficiency from 22.3% to 22.6%. DMEGC Solar, already in this band, also raised its module efficiency to 22.8% in the same month, bringing the number of companies at this level to 5. In August, another intra-band upgrade took place: Huasun improved the efficiency of its module from 23.02% to 23.18%. In October, Grand Sunergy debuted on the list with a 22.86% HJT module, followed by SolarSpace in November, which pushed the product count to 15 and the share to 28%. SolarSpace entered the list with a 22.65% module – a level that JinkoSolar had long occupied. A few more changes occurred within the band in November. JA Solar increased its product efficiency to 23%, while Astronergy improved its TOPCon module to 22.9%.
Complementing this efficiency-based assessment, TaiyangNews also recognizes sustained leadership through its TOP SOLAR MODULES Badge of Excellence, awarded to manufacturers that feature in the top 10 rankings for at least 6 months in a calendar year (see TOP SOLAR MODULES 2025: Badge Of Excellence).
The text is an edited excerpt from TaiyangNews’ latest TOP SOLAR MODULES Report 2025, which can be downloaded for free here.
TaiyangNews is bringing together the Indian solar PV manufacturing industry for the Solar Technology Conference India 2026 (STC.I 2026). To be held on February 5 and 6 in Aerocity, New Delhi, this 2nd edition of the TaiyangNews physical conference will also have banks, investors, and policymakers in attendance. Register for the event here.