Leading Chinese solar manufacturer Longi has unveiled a powerful new 670 watt (W) solar panel and announced a new world record for silicon solar cell conversion efficiency.
Longi revealed on the weekend that it has achieved 27.81 per cent efficiency for its Heterojunction Interdigitated Back Contact (HIBC) silicon solar cells, as certified through tests by Germany’s Institute for Solar Energy Research Hamelin (ISFH).
“The achievement not only reignites global market optimism toward cutting-edge solar solutions but also solidifies Longi’s role as a trailblazer in delivering transformative energy technologies,” a company statement said.
At the same time, the solar giant unveiled its upgraded Hi-MO 9 solar module, which uses its Hybrid Passivated Back Contact (HPBC) 2.0 technology to achieve a conversion efficiency of 24.8 per cent and a maximum power output of 670 watts (W).
Longi unveiled the upgraded Hi-MO 9 module at an event over the weekend in Anhui, China, at which it claimed the module’s conversion efficiency stands as “industry-leading” that outperforms mainstream TOPCon modules by 40W in mass production.
“This advancement positions Hi-MO 9 as a transformative force for enhancing photovoltaic power plant value worldwide,” the company said.
The upgraded Hi-MO 9 modules use Longi’s proprietary second generation HPBC technology and integrate 0 Busbar (OBB) technology and full-area passivation, allowing Longi to boost module power by 10W to a peak of 670W.
The optimised rear-side grid design enabled by the 0BB technology increases module bifaciality to over 80 per cent, resulting in “significantly” enhanced overall energy yield.
“BC technology represents the ultimate advancement in crystalline silicon solar cells,” said Dennis She, vice president of Longi.
“With a mature global ecosystem, high-efficiency BC modules are rapidly being deployed across diverse applications. The upgraded Hi-MO 9, powered by HPBC 2.0, will deliver unparalleled value to customers worldwide. We are committed to sharing BC innovations with global partners to build a sustainable future.”
According to Longi, its Hi-MO 9 modules deliver a 1.5 per cent absolute efficiency gain compared to TOPCon modules, increases installed capacity by approximately 6.4 per cent under equivalent land area, and reduces upfront investment costs.
The Hi-MO 9 also delivers increased performance in environments such as partial shading, high-temperature and high-humidity regions, and low-light scenarios.
Multiple field demonstrations undertaken over the past year have shown the Hi-MO 9 module’s “remarkable” energy generation capabilities across a variety of environments.
For example, in the high-temperature, high-humidity environment of Hainan, China, Longi’s Hi-MO 9 module delivers a 1.89% per-watt energy yield advantage over conventional TOPCon modules, while in arid Riyadh, Saudi Arabia, the gain reaches 1.62%.
The Longi event was also used to announce a partnership with TÜV Rheinland, a globally renowned third-party certification institution, and the launch of the “Global Optimal BC Solar Power Plant Design Challenge.”
The competition, which will be open to consultancies, EPC firms, and renewable energy investors, is inviting designs for innovative ground-mounted power plant projects exceeding 50MW, with a total prize purse of approximately $US280,000 available to the winners.
