Is TOPCon the Next Big Thing in the Solar Industry?

TOPCon has become the buzzword in the solar world.

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Several manufacturers such as Canadian Solar, RenewSys, and Longi have launched their own TOPCon panels, each flaunting highly competitive efficiency rates. Moreover, there&#;s a growing anticipation that, in the coming years, TOPCon could surpass the widespread popularity of PERC solar cells.

But what is this technology and what are the benefits it offers?

In this blog, we will dive into all you need to know about TOPCon technology and understand what makes it stand out among conventional solar panels.

Why TOPCon?

Manufacturers are constantly trying to increase the efficiency of the solar panels. Efficiency here means the amount of light that a solar cell can convert to electricity.

This quest has birthed several module technologies such as HJT (Heterojunction with Intrinsic Thin Layer) solar cells, IBC (Interdigitated Back Contact) solar cells, PERC (Passivated Emitter and Rear Contact) solar cells, and TOPCon (Tunnel Oxide Passivated Contact) solar cells.

Right now, PERC cells are the most popular, reaching up to 22% efficiency. However, raising this efficiency rate in a sustained manner has posed a challenge for researchers. While HJT and IBC solar cells showed high efficiency, they are difficult to manufacture which makes mass production relatively unfeasible.

One standout in this race is TOPCon. It&#;s like an upgraded version of PERC and has shown a lot of promise. Although TOPCon technology originated in Germany in , researchers began a detailed examination of it only in .

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How are TOPCon Modules Made?

To understand TOPCon, it is important to learn about the PERC cell. Let&#;s delve a little deeper into technicalities.

PERC modules have a passivated layer attached to the back of the solar cells. This layer helps in re-reflecting the electrons that passed through the cells, back to the cell. As a result, electrons get a second chance at electricity generation. PERC raises the efficiency of the panels by 1%.

However, researchers found that by adding a few more layers to the PERC solar cell, its efficiency could be raised even further. A tunnel oxide and an intrinsically polysilicon layer are added to the rear side and a passivation and anti-reflective layer are added to the front of the solar cell.

These additions raise the overall efficiency of the solar cell and improve its performance in various weather conditions. This upgraded PERC cell, with its additional layers, came to be known as TOPCon.

Advantages of TOPCon

There are 3 major advantages of TOPCon panels:

1. Adaptable Manufacturing

As we discussed, the manufacturing process of TOPCon solar panels involves the addition of a few extra layers to the PERC solar cells. This makes it easy for facilities to adapt the existing production line for the creation of a completely new technology and keep the cost increase in check.

Many manufacturers have already begun reserving spaces for upgrading the PERC modules into TOPCon in their production facilities.

2. High efficiency

Under test conditions, TOPCon solar panels have demonstrated remarkable efficiency rates, reaching as high as 29.43%! The maximum efficiency of PERC solar cells, on the other hand, is close to 24%.

Even in real-world conditions, TOPCon panels convert more sunlight into energy than traditional solar panels. Consequently, these panels can produce more electricity in the same space.

For example, globally leading solar manufacturers, Canadian Solar, recently announced the mass production of their TOPCon modules which boast a maximum efficiency of 25%. The rating of the modules will be up to 690 W.

3. Better Performance

Apart from these, TOPCon modules are known to display better PV performance. These modules experience lower first-year degradation and subsequent efficiency decline over the following 25 years compared to traditional solar panels currently available in the market.

Moreover, the TOPCon modules display higher efficiency even in hot temperatures and low-light situations, which raises the overall generation of the panels.

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The Verdict

TOPCon is a technology that shows a lot of potential. Studies have shown that it is highly efficient and reliable and has the potential to overtake PERC modules

However, the current drawback lies in the higher manufacturing costs compared to existing market modules. Manufacturers are actively expanding their production facilities to integrate TOPCon and address the increasing demand for solar solutions.

Despite these challenges, TOPCon proves to be an excellent choice for urban areas where suitable land or rooftop space for solar panel installation is limited.

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These N type discussions I view as a bit over hyped.

"And what's more, is that the rollout has begun. Trina has already integrated this technology into their Vertex N and Vertex S+ PV module models. Designed for utilities and C&I partners, the Vertex N boasts up to 590W of power, with a module efficiency of up to 22%, while the Vertex S+ has established a new standard for residential solar."

This above cut and paste is from Trina solar's site promo. on N type structures. Sounds nice

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                                        "X21-350-BLK-E-AC                                           X21-335-BLK-E-AC                  X20-327-BLK-E-AC
Nom. Power 5 (Pnom) 350 W                                                                 335 W                                        327 W
Power Tol.                      +5/&#;0%                                                              +5/&#;0%                                       +5/&#;0%
Module Efficiency          21.5%                                                                21.0%                                         20.4%
Temp. Coef. (Power) &#;0.29%/°C                                                           &#;0.29%/°C                                 &#;0.29%/°C"

This above cut and paste is from the SunPower Xseries mono panels tech sheet, that first hit the market in (10 years ago).

With their copper substrates and Maxeon platform, they are probably the worlds longest lasting panel, with tech 10 years old.

Note their module efficiency on the x21-350. 21.5%.

Now call me crazy, but .5% increase in 10 years is nothing to get charged (Pun intended) about.

I am not beating up on Trina here. This is why PV efficiency is viewed as pretty much stagnant for the last decade, and why cells based on multi layer and Perovskites are so REALLY exciting!

One article reference below:

https://www.pv-magazine.com//04/07/triple-junction-perovskite-cell-hits-24-3-efficiency/

This is just the beginning for this new cell. The maximum efficiency is over 33% and new engineering could push it into the upper 30's or maybe even 40%, combining with other advancements.

All that being said, it is great to see all this money being plowed into PV research and improvement. Lord knows we could use it... now rather than later please.....

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william fitch
Owner
www.WeAreSolar.com
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