JinkoSolar announced it has reached a conversion efficiency of 33.24% of its n-type TOPCon-based perovskite tandem solar cell, as tested by the Shanghai Institute of Microsystem and Information Technology, Chinese Academy of Sciences.
The tandem solar cell employed Jinko’s n-type high-efficiency monocrystalline TOPCon solar cell as the bottom cell. This conversion efficiency for the perovskite/TOPCon tandem solar cell was achieved through various materials and technology innovations including ultra-thin poly-Si passivated contact technology, novel light-trapping technology, intermediate recombination layer with high light transmittance and high carrier mobility, and efficient surface passivation technology using hybrid materials. This achievement demonstrates the compatibility of TOPCon as a mainstream solar cell technology with the next-generation perovskite/silicon tandem cell technology, breaking the efficiency limit of single-junction silicon solar cell.
“This milestone breakthrough once again highlights JinkoSolar’s determination to continuously push the boundaries through strong technological innovation capabilities,” said Dr. Jin Hao, CTO of JinkoSolar. “It also lays a solid technical foundation for the company’s continuous development. We believe that, as we continue to deepen our scientific research and technology, we will contribute to building a greener and more sustainable new energy structure.”
LONGi reached 33.9% efficiency with its own silicon-perovskite tandem solar cell design in November 2023, although it was not TOPCon-specific.
News item from Jinko
What I’m not seeing here is when this will be put into manufacturing and what off the manufacturing line tandem cells output production will look like. The other boggle is the recent Biden rise in the 201,301 tariff rates on many goods and materials being shipped from China, how will that affect getting this product manufactured by JinkoSolar into the Florida factory sooner than later? What about international certification of these new tandem cells? What about passing IEC 61xxx certifications is this being done now? I’m thinking U.S. company First Solar is also doing R&D testing and analysis on tandem solar PV cells and panels. It has been previously announced that Sunpower and First Solar have been working on a silicon-perovskite tandem that has been projected at the end of this year or the beginning of next year. This would be the kind of thing that will push the solar cell solar harvest efficiency out to around 35%. IF First Solar gets this product ironed out by 2025 and the promised manufacturing for the “residential market” a current best efficiency panel of around 24% would provide for at least the first year of use around 9kWp for 400 square feet of roof space and around 13.5kWp for a 600 square foot array. With the tandem silicon-perovskite at the projected at least first year of 35% efficiency, it would make a 400 square foot array about 13kWp and 600 square feet 19.6kWp a substantial bump in efficiency. Now the overarching concern is will this tandem be able to compete directly with curent TOPCon silicon cell based panels or will the LeTID become a problem to be able to compete with single silicon of 24% that is said to have 2% cell degradation the first year and some panels are claiming 0.5% to 0.25% degradation every year after? Basically a 30 year panel warranty for current silicon crystal solar PV panels is around 83.5% to 91% power output after (30) years of daily use.