Continuous improvements across cells, modules, and manufacturing are expected to keep TOPCon as the dominant PV technology for the rest of the decade
Manufacturing economics are diverging by region as China maintains cost leadership, while Europe and the US face higher CapEx and policy uncertainty
Carbon footprint and bankability are becoming increasingly important investment criteria
New TOPCon-based products targeting 650 W+ focus on reliability, efficiency, and long-term energy yield, reflecting a shift toward overall system value rather than module pricing alone
TOPCon, the current mainstream solar PV technology in global markets, shows no signs of slowing. Ongoing major and incremental technological improvements are widely expected to keep it as the market leader for many years to come.
Hence, devoting only one day to TOPCon was not enough during the 4-day TaiyangNews High Efficiency Solar Technologies 2025 Conference. After focusing on back contact (BC) on Day 1 of the conference on December 3, and TOPCon on Day 2 on December 4, TaiyangNews picked up the TOPCon thread on Day 3 of the conference on December 9. Here are the key highlights from Day 3 of the conference.
Global PV Manufacturing Economics
Keynote speaker of the day, RCT Solutions CEO Peter Fath, shared insights from delivering 73 GW of integrated PV and supporting 15 GW of factory ramp-ups across 26 countries. He said China dominates the PV value chain due to scale, innovation, and cost leadership. Europe lags because of investor uncertainty, limited capacity additions, and weak trade protection, as bankruptcy announcements shake investor confidence further. The US sees strong market demand but faces investor concerns due to a lack of long-term policy clarity despite many new project announcements.
He noted that PV manufacturing costs vary widely by region. Equipment and facility CapEx are highest in the US and Europe, while India benefits from low labor costs. China remains the most cost-competitive overall. Carbon footprint is becoming a key factor in Europe, with Germany benefiting from low-carbon power, while India’s higher CO₂ intensity could constrain exports to global markets.
On technology trends to 2030, he said TOPCon will dominate in India and Europe, PERC and TOPCon in the US, with growing interest in back contact (BC) and tandem cells. However, the stress will be on bankable products. For investors, he emphasized the need for strong, experienced teams, disciplined project execution, stable factory scope, and a ‘zero-mistake’ approach, especially in Western markets where PV manufacturing leaves little room for error.
Deep Dive into DeepBlue 5.0
Outlining the manufacturer’s transition into n-type TOPCon technology, JA Solar Product Manager Djamel Eddine Mansour introduced the company’s upgraded DeepBlue 5.0 module. The focus for this iteration is on higher reliability and performance, he explained, because the value structure of a PV installation now no longer counts module costs as the largest share, but the 3rd largest of the value stack. Instead, the focus is now on system value and the benefits that modules bring to the entire system.
DeepBlue 5.0 builds on design and process upgrades at the wafer, cell, and module levels. According to Mansour, it uses more uniform wafers enabled by multi-slice technology, improved passivated contact n-type cells, and optimized optical and electrical designs. Compared with DeepBlue 4.0, the new module increases power output by 20 W to 25 W and reduces linear degradation by 0.4% per year.
The module features Gapless Flexible Interconnection (GFI), High-Density Packaging (HDP), Composite Structure Enhancement (CSE), and Ultra-Transparent Material optimization (UTM).
DeepBlue 5.0 features a rated output of up to 670 W, efficiency of up to 24.8%, and bifaciality of 85%, a temperature coefficient of –0.26%/°C, and linear degradation of 0.35% per year. Mansour added that, thanks to its optimized circuit design, DeepBlue 5.0 modules deliver 34% higher power generation compared to conventional half-cell designs under common edge shading.
Overall, JA Solar is positioning DeepBlue 5.0 as a higher-power, more durable module optimized for long-term energy yield.
Tongwei Advances TOPCon Efficiency
At Tongwei, TOPCon is still considered to offer the greatest potential for further efficiency gains, said Aran Huang from the manufacturer’s Overseas Technical Support team. She explained that Tongwei’s efficiency improvements focus on both cell and module levels, including advanced cell designs, narrower fingers, improved light trapping, anti-reflective (AR)-coated glass, and reduced ribbon width.
Huang shared that Tongwei’s TNC 2.0 achieved up to 24.1% module efficiency using optimized printing and passivation technologies. Building on this, TNC 3.0 adopts multi-cut cells with Tongwei Passivation Edge (TPE) technology to significantly reduce cutting losses, lower power loss, and improve open-circuit voltage and temperature performance.
She highlighted that the TNC 3.0 multi-cut, overlapped cell design maximizes optical efficiency and improves power distribution reliability. As a result, TNC 3.0 can deliver 40 W more than conventional mainstream TOPCon modules and about 20 W more than TNC 2.0, matching the performance of leading BC technology (630 W to 670 W) and setting a new industry benchmark.
She added that TNC 3.0 modules are expected to reach about 655 W output in mass production by the end of 2026 and 670 W by the end of 2027, with continued gains also planned for rooftop modules.
Laplace Advances TOPCon+ and xBC
LAPLACE Director of Technology Josua Stückelberger outlined the company’s latest contributions to high-efficiency solar cell manufacturing in keeping with market demand. He highlighted TOPCon+ as an advanced evolution of TOPCon, supported by proprietary process flows and equipment that enable cell efficiencies above 25.5%, including record results achieved by customers.
He highlighted that LAPLACE equipment meets US and European market requirements with its proprietary TOPCon process and LPCVD ex-situ doping, enabling compliant production and supported by strong patent protection.
According to Stückelberger, TOPCon+ and xBC technologies rely on stable, uniform thermal SiOx layers and LPCVD deposition of tunnel oxide and polysilicon. Stückelberger described lasers as the most cost-effective solution for patterning localized poly-Si fingers or even xBC. The company has also developed advanced laser tools covering all critical manufacturing steps for TOPCon+ and xBC manufacturing.
Stückelberger also emphasized optimized fab layouts for lower CapEx and OpEx, and AI-enabled smart factory integration in its scheme of things.
Cell Metallization for 650W+
JTPV R&D Manager Xinrui An presented the company’s cell and module technology advancements to enable 650 W-class modules and beyond. For this, it is incorporating key developments, including steel-stencil printing for more uniform fingers, which can deliver efficiency gains of about 0.07% to 1.3% and is suitable for mass production.
JTPV is also addressing advanced metallization challenges through improved finger and busbar design, with An highlighting silver-coated copper as a cost-effective alternative material which reduced silver use with efficiency gains of up to 0.4%. An also discussed JTPV’s multi-cut cells approach to increase module power and reduce resistive losses, alongside the use of slightly larger wafers.
An said the cut line approach, a substitute for Half Edge Passivation (HEP), is especially effective for multi-cut cells and can fully repair laser-cut edges.
2026 PV Pricing and Technology Outlook
Alex Barrows, the Head of PV at CRU/Exawatt, said that current module pricing is unsustainable, with soft demand and persistent overcapacity keeping prices low. He noted that market fundamentals do not support a near-term price increase, although meaningful Chinese government intervention and industry consolidation could alter the outlook. Barrows added that a healthier supply–demand balance will likely require some manufacturer exits, which are yet to occur.
Looking to 2026, he expects weaker demand in China to lead to a market contraction even lower than in 2024 and 2025, pulling down global installations. On the technology front, Barrows said new TOPCon module launches are rapidly closing the efficiency gap with BC designs, supporting TOPCon’s near-term dominance. While manufacturers are preparing for BC, he said a major transition in mainstream technology will depend on sustained efficiency lead and cost parity, which he expects no earlier than 2028–2030.
Panel Discussion
TaiyangNews Head of Technology Shravan Chunduri wrapped up Day 3 of the conference with a panel discussion with CRU/Exawatt Head of PV Alex Barrows and LAPLACE Director of Technology – International Business Unit Josua Stückelberger. They explored key market dynamics, technology pathways, and strategies manufacturers can adopt to stay competitive.
Solar markets remain hard to predict, said CRU/Exawatt’s Alex Barrows, while adding that periodic surprise markets may pop up just like Vietnam and Pakistan in the past. Potential countries exist in the Middle East as of now. He expects HJT to remain a niche technology, while delays in tandem cells could give BC more time to develop.
According to LAPLACE’s Josua Stückelberger, demand for higher-power modules is increasing, which favors integrated manufacturers and could drive industry consolidation around 2026. He observed that while overcapacity exists, manufacturers are still investing to upgrade technology, supporting strong demand for equipment. He highlighted cost reduction potential through higher efficiency, lower metallization costs, and the shift from silver to copper. Stückelberger advised new entrants to adopt TOPCon+ directly to stay competitive.
Both speakers agreed that TOPCon still has optimization potential, especially in efficiency and costs, and that tandem technology needs several more years of field-proven reliability before becoming mainstream. They emphasized the importance of careful market positioning, supply chain diversification, and adapting to trade policies when planning new manufacturing investments.