China-based mono-crystalline solar manufacturer Longi has set three new PV cell efficiency world records, each of which has been independently verified by the Institute for Solar Energy Research in Germany.
Longi said on Thursday that the conversion efficiency of the company’s N-type monocrystalline bifacial TOPCon solar cells developed at its Cell R&D Center had now reached 25.21%, besting the previous record, also held by Longi, of 25.09%.
A second record, in this case using Longi’s high-efficiency P-type solar cell technology, saw the efficiency of a commercial size P-type monocrystalline bifacial TOPCon solar cell exceed 25% for the first time, reaching 25.02%.
ISFH had also confirmed that the conversion efficiency of a commercial size monocrystalline heterojunction technology (HJT) solar cell produced by Longi’s New Technology R&D Centre had reached a record of 25.26%, putting the company at the forefront of that technology.
“With the ambitious goals we have set for ourselves, our approach is to stay close to the essence of technology by selecting the best technical route, maximizing product performance potential and proactively ushering in the changes needed to achieve the technical transformation,” said Dr Li Hua, vice president and head of Longi Solar’s Cell R&D Center.
Longi said in a statement that the development of new solar technology was one of the critical factors in achieving China’s twin goals of ‘peaking’ carbon by 2030 and achieving carbon neutrality by 2060.
“Longi’s high-efficiency cell and module technology and resultant products enable the company to maintain its leading position in the industry in terms of efficiency, performance, quality and cost, contributing significantly to reaching these objectives.”
In Australia, Longi – which is a member of the Solar Module Super League – recently launched its Hi-MO 4m module series targeting residential and small commercial applications.
The three products – ranging from 370-385W, to 410-420W and 450-460W – have a maximum efficiency of up to 21%, offering “ultra-high-value” to meet the needs of different rooftops in residential, industrial and commercial applications.
The official launch of the new modules followed the announcement that Longi had notched up a new shipping record of 24.53GW PV modules in 2020, giving the company the mantle of world’s largest PV manufacturer for the first time.
Sophie is editor of One Step Off The Grid and deputy editor of its sister site, Renew Economy. Sophie has been writing about clean energy for more than a decade.
