PERC modules showed no efficiency improvements between 2023 and 2024, with the maximum efficiency stuck at 21.7%
Several manufacturers, including Tongwei, Astronergy, Talesun, and JinkoSolar, discontinued their PERC offerings in 2024
Kalyon’s 21.61% efficiency PERC module was the only new entry in 2024 but was removed by mid-year after the company stopped PERC production
While a few companies like Suntech and GCL SI raised their PERC efficiency to 21.6%, the year 2023 saw no advancements in this segment
The TaiyangNews TOP SOLAR MODULES Analysis 2024 explored efficiency developments across various cell technologies, including IBC, HJT, TOPCon, and PERC. The analysis highlights advancements in the first 3 technologies, while PERC shows a declining trend. If there is anything that has been stagnant in our TOP SOLAR MODULES list, it’s the efficiency range of PERC products. While the lower limit would not change as it is also the benchmark efficiency to enter our TOP SOLAR MODULES list, the upper limit increased only once in February 2022 over the last 3 years. That means, within the timeline scope of this report, i.e., 2023-2024, the efficiency range of PERC has not changed at all. While a few companies did announce PERC modules above 21.7%, we did not find proof for commercialization, and thus have excluded them in our TOP SOLAR MODULES listing (see Progress Of TOPCon Technology In 2024).
The developments associated with PERC products in 2024 were rather negative. Only one new product made it to the list – Kalyon’s PERC module with 21.61% efficiency – for the first time in March. Interestingly, it was also the first to be delisted in July, as the company completely stopped commercial activities for PERC-based products. At least 4 more companies followed suit – Tongwei in September, Astronergy and Talesun in October, and JinkoSolar in November.
The story was slightly different in 2023. Products from LONGi, Risen and Canadian Solar were at the top level of 21.7% throughout the year. Other products to remain unaltered during the course of 2023 were: JinkoSolar and Akcome modules at 21.68%; 3 companies at 21.6% – Trinasolar, JASolar and Talesun; Jinergy, Seraphim and Yingli at 21.57%, EGing PV at 21.56%, and Qcells listed at 21.5% (see IBC Technology: Efficiency Leader With Limited Representation In 2024).
Coming to the changes, Tongwei joined the 21.7% club in March, up from 21.5% previously, and stayed there through 2023. Astronergy also improved the efficiency of its top PERC offering in March but from 21.5% to 21.6%, and remained at this updated level till August, but then fell back to the 21.5% level in September to stay there till year-end. DAS Solar also joined the top PERC efficiency group in April and didn’t see any further changes. From July, Suntech also joined the top spot improving its module efficiency by 0.1 percentage point to 21.6%. In the same month, Qn-SOLAR, SolarSpace, and URECO joined the 21.57% efficiency point, while CECEP, GCL SI, and Runergy entered with 21.5% efficiency. In August, GCL SI improved the top efficiency of its PERC product to 21.6%. In October, ZNSHINE joined in with an efficiency of 21.5%, and these products maintained their efficiency levels until the end of December 2023 (see HJT Efficiency Trends In TaiyangNews TOP SOLAR MODULES 2024 Analysis).
The TaiyangNews TOP SOLAR MODULES 2024 Report summarizes the key findings from over 24 editions published during 2023 and 2024. Download the free report here.
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