Trinasolar Achieves 26.58% ‘Record’ N-Type TOPCon Solar Cell Efficiency

Leading Chinese solar PV manufacturer Trinasolar has reported achieving 26.58% efficiency for its n-type bifacial i-TOPCon solar cell, calling it a new world record for large-area industrial TOPCon solar cell. It counts this to be the 28th time it has set and broken the world record in cell/module conversion efficiency.  

Only last month, it announced achieving 25.9% efficiency for its industrial larger-area 210 ×182 mm² n-type bifacial i-TOPCon cell, breaking the ‘7-year’ record of Fraunhofer ISE. Within a month, the Chinese manufacturer has increased the efficiency of its TOPCon solar cell to 26.58%. 

It has achieved the updated efficiency on its industrial larger-area 340.4 cm2 n-type cell, which it says is certified by the calibration center at the German Institute for Solar Energy Research in Hamelin (ISFH CalTeC). 

Trinasolar says it uses its proprietary ‘innovative’ rectangle wafer design for this cell where the substrate is an n-type phosphorus-doped Cz silicon wafer with a high minority carrier lifetime. It was able to achieve the 26.58% efficiency by integrating with tunnel oxide passivating contact, advanced boron-doped emitter, advanced light trapping and very fine line printing technologies.  

“This achievement demonstrates the strong technical potential of TOPCon solar cells. Trinasolar will continue to invest on the R&D of TOPCon solar cells and modules, making TOPCon the most competitive technology while strengthening intellectual property protection and keeping advanced technologies firmly in our hands,” said Trinasolar’s Chairman and CEO Gao Jifan.  

Like some other TOPCon manufacturers, Trinasolar is also betting big on the TOPCon technology. It has accused some leading names like Canadian Solar, Runergy and Adani of infringing on its TOPCon patents. The USITC has also agreed to investigate its claims against Runergy and Adani (see US To Investigate Runergy & Adani For Solar Patent Infringement).