Canadian Solar announced its technology team set a world-record of 23.81% conversion efficiency for n-type large area multi-crystalline silicon solar cell. The record-setting n-type P5 cell conversion efficiency was recently tested and certified by Germany’s Institute für Solarenergieforschung GmbH (ISFH). This is the third time within a span of nine months that the company has set multi-crystalline solar cell conversion efficiency world record (see 22.8% and 22.28% records for p-type multi-crystalline cells).
Dr. Shawn Qu, Chairman and Chief Executive Officer of Canadian Solar, said, “I am very pleased to announce that we broke the world record yet again. This is a milestone for our revolutionary n-type P5 technology development. It proves that both our p-type and n-type multi-crystalline silicon technology can achieve efficiencies as good as mono. We remain focused on expanding our technology pipeline to provide our customers with the most LCOE-competitive products.”
Canadian Solar has been developing and is commercially launching its P5 cell technology and solar module products. In September 2019, Canadian Solar set a world record of 22.8% conversion efficiency for p-type P5 cell. The 23.81% record efficiency multi-crystalline cell was fabricated utilizing 157mm x 157mm (area 246.44cm2) n-type P5 silicon wafer and PASCon (Passivated Contact) technology.
News item from Canadian Solar
Solarman says
Yeah, the claim is 23.81% efficiency, Trina solar has also announced a 23.3% efficient cell from ‘existing’ manufacturing line equipment. The bottom line is longevity and this will only be proven in actual long term use. What folks seem to miss, is there is usually a first year degradation of 3% maybe more. After that many of the now “mature” solar PV panel lines have proven 0.5% to 0.7% degradation after the first year. It is important when one designs a system as a “legacy” use appliance. If you want a relatively stable system over 30 years, then one can design their solar PV system say 40% larger and take into account, long term degradation, dusting of panels, temperature effects on daily panel outputs. Many solar PV panels on the market today are less than $1/watt, one can find pallet pricing of panels at $0.80/watt or a little less retail.
The solar PV market has actually flipped upside down. It used to be the solar PV panels were the majority of the cost in the system. Now the BOS and soft costs are the more costly items. Energy storage is becoming important in home power resiliency, this item combined with solar PV is becoming a practice in many utility sphere’s of influence due to rate spiking programs. It is interesting to see what has happened over the last 15 years. At one time a simple panel string to house grid tied inverter system of about 9kWp was $71,000 unsubsidized. Now a 15kWp grid tied system can be purchased outright for about $18K. Smart ESS systems are going for around $28K installed for 20kWh systems. For $46K, about the cost of a mid-range vehicle now-a-days. The ‘trend’ is towards a comprehensive package of solar PV and ESS that is designed to work together. This compounding will bring down system pricing also in the near future. Imagine being able to control electricity use and ‘pricing’ when YOU have the time, not when the utility decides it is more efficient for you to use the electricity.
If this trend keeps up, the utility will be relegated to back up and surge demand without a lot of ‘regular’ use in the individual home’s energy demands. Now what excuse(s) will these utilities have when a 2,000 square foot home presents a 500 square foot bungalow load to the utility grid? A zero demand for days, due to the solar PV/ESS ability to supply all electricity needs to the home?