Chinese PV cell and module maker Jietai Solar (JTPV) unveiled the latest TOPCon back-contact (TBC) cell technology based module at the recently concluded SNEC 2024 in Shanghai, China. The company, which had a manufacturing capacity of 9.5 GW for p-PERC and 31 GW for n-type TOPCon cells as of the end of 2023, recently forayed into the TOPCon back contact technology space. Speaking to TaiyangNews at the show, JTPV provided some details on its brand-new JTPV-xBC TBC module series, and the next-generation ‘MoNo 2’ series n-type cells.
TBC module
The new JTPV-xBC module, with a 144 TBC half-cell configuration, has dimensions of 2,278 x 1,134 x 30 mm. Without disclosing the exact power class or efficiency figures, JTPV claims to have achieved an absolute efficiency gain of 0.5% to 1% with this module compared to a conventional TOPCon module. This efficiency gain can be attributed to the TBC cell’s improved temperature coefficient of -0.26%/℃ and its back-contact design. The lower temperature coefficient of the TBC module, in either a single-glass or dual-glass configuration, offers better performance at higher operating temperatures. The company said that this latest BC module is currently in the research & development (R&D) stage.
New n-Type cell
Apart from the latest BC module, following the success of its ‘MoNo 1’ series, JTPV debuted its next-generation ‘MoNo 2’ n-Type 182M-16BB series cell at the event. Harnessing the key characteristics of the MoNo 1 series cell, the company said it has further upgraded the cell structure by incorporating J-HEP (Half-cut Edge Passivation) and J-WBSF (Wave Back Surface Field) technologies. J-HEP technology improves the edge passivation performance of the cell by applying a passivation layer along the half-cut cell edges. According to the company, this innovative passivated edge can deliver a substantial 6 W+ power increase per module. On the other hand, the J-WBSF technology with its innovative ‘wavy’ structure on the back surface of the cell, enhances the rear side BSF’s ability to capture and reflect electrons more effectively, resulting in improved bifaciality of up to 90%, added the company. However, it didn’t disclose the efficiency figures of the 2nd generation ‘MoNo 2’ series n-Type cell.
JTPV says it has 40.5 GW of cell production capacity in China, with the bulk (31 GW) being TOPCon and about a quarter based on PERC (9.5 GW). The company plans to increase the capacity to 53.5 GW by the end of the year.