Trina Solar announced it has achieved an average efficiency of 20.16% for its industrially produced p-type multicrystalline 156 x 156 mm² silicon solar cells based on PERC technology.
Another internal efficiency record of 18.7% has been reported by the Chinese company for its multicrystalline silicon p-type double print (DP) standard cells – also with dimensions of 156 x 156 mm². These cells were mass produced for commercial shipments, said Trina.
According to Trina Solar, both record efficiency cells are fabricated on a new generation of high-performance p-type Trina-1 wafers (T1 wafers). The company manufactured these using 'homogenous nucleation and black edge free technologies.'
It says modules of 60 cells that use these multicrystalline silicon PERC cells have reached power ratings of 286 W. Trina doesn't mention any external institute to have certified these results.
The world record for multicrystalline cells is being held by JinkoSolar. In Oct. 2017, it announced a 22.04% multi PERC cell. At the time, it broke its previous record it set at 21.63% in Sept. 2016.
An overview of commercial module power ratings of leading suppliers in TaiyangNews' latest PERC report showed the top multi PERC standard module from GCL with a power rating of 305 W (see TaiyangNews PERC Solar Cell Technology Report 2018).