Longi sets new PERC module efficiency record

Longi Solar has set a new world record for a 60-cell monocrystalline PERC module efficiency at 20.83%. This overtakes the previous record of 20.41%, which was also set set by Longi back in January.

The result has been confirmed in independent testing by TÜV Süd, and adds to the impressive list of world records now under Longi’s belt. They include a record for PERC cell efficiency, which stands at 23.6% after the company broke its own record five times in less than a year.

“Longi Solar keeps pushing the boundaries of PERC technology so as to further improve the cost performance,” says Longi Solar Vice President Lv Jun. “We firmly believe PERC will effectively improve power generation efficiency and reliability of PV systems, lower LCOE and bring higher benefits for customers.”

The manufacturing giant is in the process of upgrading all of its cell capacity to PERC technology. Analysts expect PERC to continue as the dominant module technology for the next few years, reaching 158 GW in global demand by 2022.

Longi is also combing PERC with bifacial technology, having achieved a record 82.15% bifaciality for a PERC in late 2017. Longi Solar president Zhenguo Li told pv magazine last month that he expects the company to ship 1 GW of bifacial modules in 2018, and to have capacity for more than 10 GW in 2019.