TaiyangNews Top Solar Modules Analysis Report 2023 looked into different solar cell technologies over a period of 2 years. Starting with IBC, providing the highest efficiency, it had the lowest product count with 2 in January 2022 and 3 in December 2022. Even with the addition of one product during 2023, the product count only increased to 4 (see Share Of Cell Technologies).
With hardly any growth in the number of products, the technology's share decreased from 10% to 9% in 2022 and to 7% in 2023. This is an indication that only a few companies have been able to master IBC as a commercial technology. Initially, it was mainly 2 companies in January 2022, LG and Maxeon, with LG exiting the solar industry in April 2022. In March 2022, SPIC's IBC product based on ISC Konstanz's Zebra technology also entered the market. This left Maxeon and SPIC as the only suppliers of commercial IBC modules at the time. However, in November 2022, LONGi launched its HPBC, also built on the IBC platform, thus increasing the number of products to 3 till February 2023.
An Aiko show: Maxeon and SPIC have been the traditional IBC followers with LONGi joining the club towards the end of 2022, but it has been an Aiko show in 2023 both with its foray into the technology and becoming the first to hit the 24% efficiency benchmark. (Source: TaiyangNews)
In March 2023, Aiko also joined this elite club, increasing the count to 4 and its share to 11%. While the product count remained the same, IBC's share declined to 7% September onwards. In February 2024, Aiko set a new world record with its All Back Contact (ABC) solar panels, achieving an 25.15% conversion efficiency (see Aiko Solar Announces New World Record Efficiency).
For more details, download The TaiyangNews TOP MODULES 2023 Report for free here.