The rise of bifacial and advanced solar cell technologies has led to the adoption of alternatives to EVA, like POE and multilayer structures
Co-extruded films, such as EVA-POE-EVA (EPE), are being used to combine the benefits of both materials, addressing the limitations of single-layer encapsulation
The TaiyangNews market survey now features 89 encapsulation models from 14 suppliers, with new entrants like Jolywood, Endurans, Betterial, Alishan, Sunlink, and Satinal
The number of non-EVA products has increased to 36, with materials like non-crosslinking polyolefin (PO) being developed by suppliers such as HIUV, Enrich, and Sinopont
Discussing different materials and structures, the Encapsulation segment would have been irrelevant just a few years ago. Ethylene Vinyl Acetate (EVA) has been the material of choice for encapsulation, likely since the inception of solar modules. Over time, EVA became so dominant that it was synonymous with encapsulation, enjoying a market monopoly for over 3 decades. However, the limitations of EVA began to show, particularly with the wider adoption of bifacial technology based on the PERC cell platform. The emergence of new cell architectures such as TOPCon, HJT, and XBC further raised the performance requirements for encapsulation materials, prompting the industry to look beyond EVA. In response, Polyolefin (POE) has evolved as a prominent alternative. While POE offers significant advantages, it is not without its drawbacks, such as longer process times, costly resin, and the tendency for busbars to slip during lamination (see The Role Of Encapsulation Films & Backsheets In Solar Module Durability & Efficiency).
Until a few years ago, encapsulation materials were limited to single-layer constructions. The industry has adopted a multilayer co-extruded structure to overcome the limitations of EVA and POE while combining the benefits of both worlds. A typical configuration involves a POE film sandwiched between 2 EVA layers (EPE). At the same time, EVA has seen continued optimization, resulting in improved variants with superior anti-PID properties and low acid formation. Another notable innovation is white EVA, which enhances reflectivity on the rear side, making it particularly beneficial for monofacial modules (see Advanced Solar Technologies Drive Changes In Module Materials).
To address some of white EVA's shortcomings, a few companies are also developing a co-extruded structure of transparent and white EVA (EW). For the purpose of the TaiyangNews Backsheets and Encapsulation Market survey, we have categorized encapsulation materials into EVA and non-EVA. This edition of the survey includes the major suppliers in the encapsulation segment, featuring a total of 89 models from 14 suppliers versus 46 products from 8 companies in the previous edition. The new names are not really new to the industry.
As mentioned above, Jolywood, the market leader of the backsheet segment, and Endurans are the traditional backsheet suppliers to have expanded into the encapsulation segment. All 4 survey debutants – Betterial, Alishan, Sunlink, and Satinal – are also encapsulation material suppliers, while it is the exclusive focus for the latter 2 (see Solar Encapsulation & Backsheets Adapting To A Shifting Market).
HANGZHOU FIRST, HIUV and Sveck have traditionally been the top 3 companies in encapsulation. While Cybrid joined the segment a little late, it was able to enter the league of these established players quickly. We list 53 EVA products in this survey compared to 26 last year. Except for Crown and Sunlink, all of the companies above also offer polyolefin-based encapsulation solutions. While most of them offer a polyolefin elastomer (POE), HIUV, Enrich and Sinopont also offer non-crosslinking type polyolefin (PO). A total of 36 products are listed in the non-EVA section of the survey, 16 more than our previous survey. The TaiyangNews Solar Technology Conference India 2025 will take place on April 10-11, 2025, in New Delhi. InYoung Suh, Director of Business Development at Hangzhou First, will discuss Advancing solar module performance and reliability through the right bill of materials. Check the agenda here.
As India aims to strengthen its solar PV manufacturing industry, TaiyangNews Solar Technology Conference India 2025 will provide a platform for experts to discuss cutting-edge advancements. Taking place on April 10-11, 2025, in New Delhi, the event will feature technologists, scientists, and engineers driving innovation in the sector. Early-bird registrations are on here.
The text is an excerpt from the latest TaiyangNews Market Survey on Backsheets & Encapsulation Materials 2024/25, which can be downloaded for free here.