AIKO presented its 4th generation BC module portfolio for residential, C&I, and utility applications, with power ratings up to 690 W
The latest modules combine cell- and module-level design changes, including rear-side polyfingers, reduced creepage distance, and optimized rear metallization to improve power and bifaciality
The new Z series targets residential installations with all-black modules, a 40-year product and performance warranty, and enhanced mechanical load capability
At the recently held TaiyangNews Global PV System Technology Trends H1/2026 Conference, Mohammad Alshrouf, Product and Solution Manager at AIKO, presented the company’s latest BC modules under its 4th generation and the Z series.
The presentation included modules for residential, commercial & industrial (C&I), and utility applications, with the latest generation rated 10 W higher than the previous generation. For residential applications, AIKO offers modules based on 108 half-cells, offering a maximum efficiency of 25.3% and 505 W of power. These smaller modules measure 1,762 × 1,134 mm, are under 2 m² in area, and are promoted for balcony solar applications in Europe.
For commercial applications, this series has modules with similar efficiency and slightly higher power of 560 W. Built with 120 half-cells, these modules measure 1,954 × 1,134 mm. Both these modules are also available in all-black appearance configurations.
For utility applications, AIKO offers two modules with different efficiencies: the first, packed with 132 half-cells, features 24.8% efficiency with 670 W maximum power output, while the second, with 144 half-cells, offers 25.6% efficiency with 690 W power.
The company’s 4th-generation BC technology features improvements at both the cell and module levels to deliver an additional 10 W of power. At the cell level, AIKO says optimizing front-side texturing and rear-side polyfingers improved cell efficiency by 0.2%, contributing about 5 W to the improvement. At the module level, in addition to the zero busbar (0BB) implemented in 3rd generation modules, AIKO reduced the creepage distance (distance between cells and module frame) to increase the light illumination area, which further contributed about 7 W of module power. However, reducing the creepage distance poses challenges such as insulation failure, moisture- and oxygen-ingress-induced corrosion, and bubble formation along the edges. To address this, Alshrouf said AIKO used several mitigation approaches, including double passivation layers, eliminating glass frit, using nanoscale insulating material, and process optimization to prevent voids or bubbles along the edges. He also claimed that bifaciality improved to 85% with optimization of the metallization grid on the rear side.
The other series module, the Z series, focuses on residential applications with an all-black appearance. The key differentiator from its previous generation, and from other BC products, is a 40-year product and performance warranty, similar to the warranty period of a newly constructed roof. The module offers a maximum efficiency of 25% and 500 W power. It is available in both mono-glass and dual-glass configurations, with the latter still weighing under 25 kilograms and both measuring under 2 m² in area.
Other features of this module include increased frame thickness, which raises the panel’s load-bearing capacity from 1,600 pa to 2,400 pa, with regions that experience heavy snowfall in mind. Alshrouf claims that in the event of a hot spot, the cell temperature will not reach 100 °C, which is an important advantage for the module's fire safety.
