A new record for crystalline silicon solar module efficiency has been set by China’s Longi with its hybrid passivated back contact (HPBC) 2.0 module.
According to a certification report from Germany’s Fraunhofer Institute for Solar Energy Systems (Fraunhofer ISE), the module achieved a conversion efficiency of 25.4%, surpassing the previous record of 24.9% set by Maxeon in January.
This record-breaking achievement will be recognised by Prof. Martin Green of the University of New South Wales in the “Solar Panel Efficiency Tables” and included in the U.S. National Renewable Energy Laboratory’s (NREL) “Champion Module Efficiencies” database.
Notably, this is the first time a Chinese solar company has claimed the world record for crystalline silicon module efficiency since 1988.
The HPBC technology has become a key player in high-efficiency module development, with back contact (BC) cells dominating efficiency records over the past three decades.
Since SunPower’s record of 20.3% efficiency in 2007, BC technology has maintained its position due to its compatibility and high efficiency, achieving eight consecutive world records in crystalline silicon module efficiency.
Longi told pv magazine that this achievement represents a breakthrough in research and development, though the company continues to work on improving the efficiency of its commercially available panels.
Longi’s HPBC 2.0 modules for commercial shipment reach an efficiency of 24.8%.
Longi also introduced its Hi-MO X10 series this month, featuring HPBC 2.0 cells with production efficiencies over 26.6%.
Other new models include the Hi-MO X6 and X6 Max, which utilise HPBC 1.0 cells, and the Hi-MO 9, designed for utility-scale applications with HPBC 2.0 technology.
