On December 4, at the 2024 China Photovoltaic Industry Association (CPVIA) Annual Conference, Trina Solar introduced a newly upgraded series of all-scenario N-Type module products based on its next-generation i-TOPCon Ultra technology. These modules are available in large, medium, and small formats, with power outputs of up to 760W, 670W, and 495W, respectively. Featuring a 1.8% efficiency improvement, the modules are suitable for diverse applications, including large-scale ground-mounted power plants, commercial and industrial (C&I) rooftops, complex terrains, European and U.S. residential rooftops, and Chinese villa rooftops. The upgraded products will enter mass production and delivery in the second quarter of 2024, with an initial capacity of 10GW, which can be adjusted based on market demand to ensure sufficient supply.
Entering the TOPCon 2.0 Era with Breakthrough Efficiency and Power
Trina Solar highlighted the advancements in TOPCon technology, such as full passivated contact, suppression of optical parasitic absorption, and ultra-fine grid lines, which have enabled cell efficiencies to exceed 26.58% and module power to increase by 30-40W. This marks the industry-wide transition into the TOPCon 2.0 era.
Dr. Zhang Yingbin, Head of Strategy, Product, and Marketing at Trina Solar, emphasized that the upgraded N-Type modules offer significant advantages across all scenarios in the TOPCon 2.0 era. These include enhanced value, especially in distributed applications. With the adoption of bifacial full passivated contact, light trapping, and ultra-fine grid line technologies, annual cell efficiency improvements of 0.3-0.4% are expected, with mass production efficiencies surpassing 27% and module power increasing by another 15-20W. In the tandem era, combining TOPCon with perovskite layers could push cell efficiencies beyond 30%.
i-TOPCon Ultra: Setting New Milestones
Trina Solar's i-TOPCon Ultra technology, released in late November, achieved a breakthrough in passivation levels, with an open-circuit voltage reaching 744.6mV. This milestone sets a new benchmark for TOPCon development. The latest record-breaking cell efficiency of 26.58% marks the first time TOPCon cells have surpassed the 26.5% threshold, signaling Trina Solar's entry into the TOPCon 2.0 era. Other industry players have also achieved cell efficiencies exceeding 26% and open-circuit voltages above 740mV, indicating a collective transition to the TOPCon 2.0 era.
All-Scenario N-Type Modules: Increased Bifacial Rate and Power Output
Dr. Zhang introduced Trina Solar's all-scenario TOPCon 2.0 N-Type modules, including large, medium, and small formats:
Large Format (760W): Designed for ground-mounted power plants, this module achieves 24.5% efficiency with a 1.3% improvement in front-side efficiency.
Medium Format (670W): Ideal for C&I rooftops and complex terrains, it offers better installation flexibility and electrical compatibility, with up to a 1.5% front-side efficiency increase.
Small Format (495W): Tailored for European and U.S. residential rooftops and Chinese villa roofs, it features a 1.8% improvement in front-side efficiency, achieving an impressive 24.8%.
The series also offers enhanced bifacial rates, reaching up to 90%, and improved performance under low irradiance and temperature conditions. The modules exhibit a first-year degradation rate of no more than 1% and an annual rate of 0.4%.
Enhanced Customer Value: Reduced LCOE
TOPCon 2.0 products deliver notable improvements in customer value and Levelized Cost of Electricity (LCOE).
For instance: In large-scale ground-mounted systems in Qinghai, China, and Spain, TOPCon 2.0 large-format modules increase customer value by RMB 0.04-0.11/W and reduce LCOE by 1.14%-1.44%.
In distributed scenarios in Germany and Fujian, China, medium-format modules improve customer value by RMB 0.11-0.18/W and lower LCOE by 2.22%-2.34%.
Future Outlook: TOPCon + Perovskite Tandems
Trina Solar aims to sustain its leadership in the photovoltaic industry with continuous innovation. With a theoretical efficiency limit of 28.7%, TOPCon still has over 2% improvement potential. By integrating perovskite tandem layers, future cell efficiencies could surpass 30%, solidifying TOPCon as a cornerstone technology in the tandem era.
Source：https://mp.weixin.qq.com/s/sbiYwgn_vF7tQAZvHBIU7w，abridged.