Modules & Upstream Manufacturing

Scientists have developed a way to compare the data given by PV manufacturers based on standard test conditions (STC) to the real conditions in the field. The proposed technique is based on the single-diode model and the Newton-Raphson algorithm. The maximum relative error was found to be at 1.37%.

Scientists have placed mist nozzles inside a bifacial PV module and measured it under an extremely hot climate. The module was found to generate up to 37% more electricity on sunny days and up to 46% more on cloudy days compared to standard monofacial panels.

PV module prices remain largely flat despite slight increases for high-efficiency products, as sluggish supply has yet to signal a clear trend, says Martin Schachinger, founder of pvXchange.com.

Back contact cells, long seen by many as too complex or costly for mainstream PV manufacturing, are a growing industry trend in 2025. Mark Hutchins stopped by Aiko’s booth, where Claudio Godinho, Europe Service Director at Aiko, treated us to live demonstrations of how the company’s back contact PV modules perform under conditions including partial shading, high temperatures, and mechanical stress.

pv magazine visited Longi’s booth at Intersolar in Munich and had a quick chat with Charles Yiang, President of Distributed Generation Business Group. He visually showed both sides of the 27.81% hybrid interdigitated back contact (HIBC) crystalline silicon solar cell that a few weeks ago achieved the world record efficiency for single-junction silicon solar cells.

Japan-based startup PXP Corporation and JGC Japan Corporation, a unit of JGC Corporation, are collaborating on a 1 kW one-year project to trial lightweight chalcopyrite panels in Yokohama City.

Scientists in Turkiye claim to have developed a nickel-based TOPCon solar cell with a minimal silver content and almost the same efficiency as fully silver metallized counterparts. The device uses a new nickel contact method that requires a trace of silver of only 0.5 mg/W.

Swedish thin film solar specialist Midsummer announced the order of a SEK 143.5 million ($14.8 million) turnkey line with a capacity for 15 MW from an undisclosed Swedish industrial and defense group.

pv magazine is compiling a guide to home solar installations, aimed at those who are interested in installing but are new to the market and want to make an informed decision. We have spoken to associations, installers and industry specialists in major solar markets across the globe to compile best practice guidance and advice that aims to be applicable to home solar installations anywhere in the world.

Indian solar manufacturers are exploring hybrid solutions like BC-TOPCon to bridge tunnel oxide passivated contact (TOPCon) and back-contact (BC) technologies, aiming to optimize efficiency while leveraging existing infrastructure.