How Topcon Technology Is The Next Big Thing In The Solar Module?
Solar modules are the major contributors to a solar system. This necessitates every solar panel manufacturer to discover innovative efforts to increase their efficiencies. One such advancement that has stirred the solar industry with impressive 28% conversion efficiencies which surpass the traditional efficiency rate of solar cells is TOPCon or Tunnel Oxide Passivated Contact Technology.
What is a TOPCON solar cell?
When compared with traditional PERC/PERT cells, TOPCon solar cells are the upgraded and more efficient technology solar cells, yet feature a highly similar structure. TOPCon cells are a kind of n-type solar cells made up of special silicon wafers that are doped with phosphorus giving the material a negative charge.
The doping of phosphorus means extra electrons, making it negatively charged and thus these solar cells are usually more efficient than p-type cells.
Another notable difference with this advanced technology solar cells is that the rear surface of the solar cells is passivated with a thin layer of aluminium oxide (Al2O3). This layer reduces recombination losses, thus helping to improve the efficiency of the cells. Typically these TOPCon solar cells are found to have higher efficiency and improved performance in low-light conditions.
How do TOPCon solar cells differ from MonoPERC?
Although both TOPCon and PERC cells visually appear quite similar, there are notable differences between the two technologies.
The major factor that differentiates TopCon from its counterpart PERC cells is it is added with the tunnelling oxide layer on its top.
Technology
The tunnel oxide layer is the heart of the TOPCon cells. This serves as an effective barrier to reduce the recombination of electrons and holes and thus achieves high efficiencies.
Passivated Emitter and Rear Cell, PERC cell is a transformative technology in the solar industry that has set new benchmarks in efficiency and design.
Efficiency
TOPCon cells can reach 28.7 % efficiency, whereas PERC cells can reach only 24.5%.
Rear structure
Topcon cells feature a tunnel oxide layer that contains excellent electronic transport properties. This feature helps in better efficient electron collection and minimizes electron recombination losses.
An oxide film forms an insulating layer on the rear side of PERC cells that reduces reverse recombination and loss of electrons.
Manufacturing process
Since there is a need for tunnel oxide layer preparation and optimization, the manufacturing process of Topcon cells is more complex and this represents higher levels of process control.
The PERC cell manufacturing process involves fewer changes when compared with conventional crystalline silicon cells.
Benefits Of Topcon Solar Cells
High upper limit of efficiency
TOPCon solar cells contain N-type silicon that is proven to give both efficiency and stability. These solar cells are capable of converting more sunlight than P-type cells and thus result in higher cell and module efficiencies.
Under test conditions, TOPCon solar panels are proven to yield an outstanding efficiency rate that could reach as high as 29.43%.
Adaptable Manufacturing
Looking into the manufacturing process of TOPCon solar panels just involves the addition of a few extra layers to the conventional PERC solar cells. This compatibility indicates that existing PERC/PERT production lines can be easily upgraded to Topcon cells with a small increase in cost.
Improved low-light performance
TOPCon cells demonstrate higher efficiency even under low-light conditions. This enables the cells to generate electricity, no matter the amount of sunlight.
Increased energy generation
TOPCon solar cells feature lower power degradation, both within the first year and even after an extended period of 25 to 30 years. This ensures that these cells can generate more energy consistently throughout their lifetime.
Lower Temperature Coefficient
The increase in temperature has fewer impacts on TopCon cells. The effectiveness of Topcon cells is higher in hot climates as compared with PERC cells.
Bifaciality rate
The bifacial factor for Topcon solar cells is around 85%. They absorb more energy from the rear side and that makes the cells favourable for ground-mount utility projects. The increased bifacial factor helps in increasing power gains up to 2%.
High durability
The lower degradation rates of Topcon solar cells make them have longer lifetimes than P-type solar cells. Topcon cells have lower LID and PID losses and they are highly resistant to high temperatures. This helps in reducing the power losses and thus enhances the reliability of the cells.
Market outlook of TOPCon technology
TOPCon solar cell technology is projected to be a promising growth and is expected to grow rapidly in the solar industry. Exploring into the diverse resources and compositions, the TOPCon technology stays strong as the greatest interest of the solar industry.
The global market size of TOPCon solar cells was approximately USD 6.5 billion in 2022. It is estimated to increase to USD 28.3 billion (approximately) by 2030. This typically signals a compound annual growth rate (CAGR) of approximately 20.2%.
Reap high-efficiency and high performance with new-generation Topcon cells
If you are in search of the best solar cells for your project, it is good to consider these advanced Topcon cells. Powernsun is a leading provider of Topcon cells and we procure them from top players in the global TOPCon Solar Cells such as Trina Solar, and Longi. Make the future more sustainable and energy-efficient by getting these cutting-edge Topcon cells from Powernsun.
