Trina Solar sets 19.86% efficiency record for multicrystalline silicon solar module
Trina Solar announced that its State Key Laboratory of PV Science and Technology of China (SKL PVST) has set a new world record of 19.86% aperture efficiency for its high-efficiency ‘Honey Plus’ multicrystalline silicon (mc-Si) solar module, which contains 120 pieces of P-type mc-Si solar cells (156x78mm2).
The result has been independently verified by the Fraunhofer ISE CalLab in Germany.
The record-breaking solar module, using the Company’s independently developed high performance mc-Si wafers with a high minority carrier lifetime, is manufactured with a number of advanced in-house technologies including half-cell interconnection, passivated emitter and rear cell (PERC) technology and highly efficient light trapping. Following the previous efficiency record of 19.14% on a 1.515m2 aperture-area announced in April 2015, the SKL PVST successfully achieved a new aperture-area efficiency record of 19.86% on a module area of 1.514m2 within one year and a half. The new record represents an increase of more than 0.7 percentage points, or approximately 3.8% higher.
“We are very delighted to announce the latest achievement from our research team at the SKL PVST. The efficiency of PV modules is one of the key parameters to estimate the final Levelised Cost of solar Electricity (LCOE). This 19.86% aperture efficiency result that Trina Solar achieved demonstrates the huge potential for future multicrystalline p-type silicon research. It is also a leap forward in the trend of continuous efficiency improvements of crystalline silicon solar modules,” said Dr. Pierre Verlinden, Vice-President and Chief Scientist of Trina Solar. “In the innovation-driven PV industry, Trina Solar is always focused on developing leading-edge PV techniques and products that improve cell efficiency and reduce system cost. By tuning into the needs of the market, we look to achieve commercial success with our innovations.”