Maxeon sets new efficiency record for rooftop solar panels

Singaporean solar manufacturer Maxeon has set another efficiency rating record for its Maxeon 7 IBC solar panels of 24.9 per cent.

Maxeon announced last week that its Maxeon 7 IBC solar panel had set a new module aperture efficiency measurement of 24.9 per cent, as confirmed by testing conducted at the U.S. National Renewable Energy Laboratory (NREL).

Aperture efficiency measurements are often a little bit higher than standard efficiency measurements, as only a small area of the module is measured while the rest is covered.

Nevertheless, the new rating ranks the Maxeon 7 panels as one of the most effective solar panels on the market, according to NREL’s Champion Photovoltaic Module Efficiency Chart.

The new record builds on the previous record module aperture efficiency measurement confirmed by the NREL in June of 2023 of 24.7%.

“Maxeon continues to push the boundaries of what’s possible in solar, with products that generate the most reliable clean energy for customers on day one and for decades to come,” said Bill Mulligan, Maxeon CEO.

“The first installations of our new Maxeon 7 panels are demonstrating the real-world value that our technology leadership is delivering, and further differentiate Maxeon from our competitors.”

Maxeon announced in February that the first Maxeon 7 panels had been installed at an unnamed site in Granada, Spain. Operating since the end of 2023, the Maxeon 7 solar panels – which are currently only available for selected commercial partners in Europe – were operating with the world’s highest conversion rate efficiency of any commercial solar panels, at 24.1%.

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“The customer had a very high level of energy consumption and was looking for specific requirements that the Maxeon 7 panels were uniquely capable to meet, offering a number of advantages in performance and energy production, best-in-class reliability and durability, with the industry’s longest warranty of 40 years,” said Andrea Sanz, national sales director for Spain at Maxeon Solar Technologies.

Maxeon also confirmed last week that its IBC panels had been IEC certified for impact resistance from hail up to 45mm in diameter – a step above many others on the market and making them a valuable option for increased reliability and durability.

“Our innovation engine continues to set the pace for the entire solar industry, with a keen focus on what matters most for the consumers, businesses and organizations choosing solar solutions,” said Matt Dawson, Maxeon chief technology officer.

“That is why our team is driving new benchmarks in panel performance, as well as advancements in cell and module technology for exceptional reliability, durability, and power generation over time. Maxeon’s record-setting breakthroughs are great validation of our innovations, and most importantly, deliver exceptional long-term benefits for our customers.”

The news of Maxeon’s latest efficiency record came only days before the company announced that it was initiating a patent infringement lawsuit against another solar manufacturer, Canadian Solar.

Maxeon alleges that Canadian Solar has infringed on Maxeon’s patented TOPCon (Tunnel Oxide Passivated Contact) solar cell technology.

Maxeon claims that the innovations behind its IBC, Shingled Hypercell, and TOPCon technologies are protected by a global patent portfolio of over 1,650 granted patents and over 330 pending patent applications.

“Maxeon has a strong heritage in developing solar cell technology, leading the development and commercialization of tunnel oxide passivated contacts,” said Marc Robinson, associate general counsel at Maxeon.

“Years before the moniker ‘TOPCon’ started to be used in the industry to describe a tunnel oxide passivated contact-based solar cell, our scientists and engineers had developed several ways to implement TOPCon technology into both back contact and front contact solar cells.

“Maxeon has many patents related to TOPCon technology, with inventions drawn to fundamental TOPCon solar cell architectures dating back to the 2000s.

“This is Maxeon’s first action to enforce its valuable patent rights in the United States, and Maxeon will continue to vigorously enforce its patent rights in the United States and its other markets.”