Chinese solar manufacturing giant Longi has unveiled a new hybrid interdigitated back-contact (HIBC) solar module that it says boasts a power of over 700W and production efficiency of nearly 26 per cent.
Longi unveiled its new solar module at this year’s International Solar Photovoltaic Exhibition (SNEC) in Shanghai, China, alongside Australia’s Professor Martin Green of the University of New South Wales, widely known as the “Father of Solar Energy”.
Based on a module size of 2382mm×1134mm – compared to the more common 2384mm×1303mm of other 700W solar modules on the market – the new solar module delivers a power density of over 259W per square metre, and a module efficiency of 25.9 per cent.
When compared to other 700W modules, therefore, Longi’s new module measures 0.4 square metres smaller but boasts a power density that is 34W per square metre higher, delivering an overall power density as high as 259W per square metre.
“This is currently the most efficient industrial photovoltaic product in the world,” said Zhong Baoshen, Longi chairman.
“Through the improvement of efficiency, we called unit yield, the unity of high value and reliability is truly achieved.”
“Simply improving efficiency through physical stacking and area expansion brings limited customer value; at the same time, the risks of reliability and quality are obvious after the area is expanded.”
Also speaking at the announcement event, Professor Green touted Longi’s continued innovation into HIBC technology.
“We recently updated the world solar cell efficiency list, and LONGi’s HIBC technology topped, ranking first, which is also due to LONGi’s unremitting efforts on the BC technology track,” said Professor Green.
The new module from Longi therefore goes a long way to cementing HIBC technology as the most efficient mass-produced solar PV modules, surpassing the limits of PERC and TOPCon thanks in large part to Longi’s efforts innovating BC technology.
This technological innovation was further demonstrated earlier this year with a new conversion efficiency record for HIBC cells of 27.81 per cent, independently certified by the Institute for Solar Energy Research Hamelin (ISFH) in Germany.
