After frequent policy winds and breakthroughs in technological routes, the photovoltaic industry, which has cleared outdated production capacity, is emerging from a low point and becoming a high growth and undervalued "potential stock" in the current market. Leading photovoltaic companies with scale advantages, financial strength, and research and development innovation capabilities are poised to take off.
New product with improved double-sided rate and better weak light power generation performance
On October 24th, Jinko Solar, a leading photovoltaic and energy storage company, released a new product - the third-generation N-type TOPCon Tiger Neo 3.0 photovoltaic module. This new product is carefully crafted based on the HOT4.0 technology platform and covers multiple innovative features such as HCP and MAX. The 670W module power and the first 495W household module power form an absolute leading advantage globally, with a conversion efficiency as high as 24.8%. Meanwhile, in the double-sided component version, the double-sided rate can reach up to 85%. Compared with other technologies, the Tiger Neo 3.0 series components have optimized series resistance and better power generation performance under low light conditions, which has attracted much market attention.
According to industry insiders' analysis, JinkoSolar's 3.0 new product has achieved significant technological innovations in batteries, components, and silicon materials. In terms of batteries, stable efficiency improvements of 0.2% -0.3% were achieved on both the front and back surfaces through backside laser patterning and front contact passivation optimization, successfully increasing efficiency to over 27%. In terms of components, 0BB is used and new electrical and optical technologies are applied to improve optical utilization, optimize circuits, reduce electrical losses, and achieve 5-10W gain. In terms of silicon wafers, low oxygen technology is applied to improve the minority carrier lifetime and performance.
More importantly, the 3.0 new product adopts advanced N-type TOPCon technology, which not only improves the efficiency of components, but also significantly reduces the attenuation rate. This design enables the Tiger Neo series to maintain stable and efficient performance even under strong sunlight such as in deserts, making it very suitable for climate conditions in markets such as the Middle East, Africa, and Central Asia.
In October of this year, the company won a large supply order of approximately 3GW N-type TOPCon components from Saudi Arabia International Power and Water Company (ACWA Power). It also plans to establish a joint venture in Saudi Arabia and invest nearly 1 billion US dollars to build a 10GW high-efficiency battery and component project. Driven by the demand for high-performance products in the Middle East and other regions, JinkoSolar's Tiger Neo 3.0 plan will accelerate the maturity of processes and mass production.
TBC is similar to TOPCon process
In the photovoltaic industry, technological iteration is an enduring hot topic. N-type technology has replaced P-type technology and become the mainstream in the market, but the competition between N-type technologies is still ongoing. There are different opinions on which one has stronger power generation capacity, TOPCon or XBC.
The industry insiders mentioned above stated that the structure and process of TBC and TOPCon are very similar, except that the front gate line is placed on the back. The difference between TBC and TOPCon is not significant, with TBC improving efficiency by about 0.3% -0.5%, but TOPCon's packaging and passivation are more convenient. At present, BC batteries are still in the early stage of mass production, and specific performance data can only be determined after climbing the slope.
As a driving force for TOPCon's technological transformation, JinkoSolar is at the forefront of technology research and development as well as capacity expansion in the industry. It is reported that JinkoSolar's TBC project is undergoing pilot and mass production stages based on research and development, and there may be further progress in 2025.
Jingke stated that the company will continue to lead the efficiency improvement of TOPCon, with an expected annual efficiency increase of over 0.5% in the next 2-3 years, and can see a production efficiency of over 28% for TOPCon. There are preliminary ideas for improving efficiency in the future. Firstly, we will continue to optimize LECO technology to improve efficiency by 0.3% -0.5%; Secondly, improving the current passivation level corresponds to an efficiency increase of 0.2% -0.3%; Thirdly, the new technology of optimizing the aspect ratio using fine grid metal corresponds to an efficiency improvement of 0.2% -0.3%.
Overall, TOPCon occupies the mainstream position in the photovoltaic market with its ultra-high cost-effectiveness, and JinkoSolar's 3.0 new product is the strongest voice of "cost reduction and efficiency improvement" in the current photovoltaic industry. With the 3.0 product, the company continues to maintain a strong technological advantage in TOPCon production capacity. Looking ahead to future development, the 3.0 product will further enhance JinkoSolar's market competitiveness, providing guarantees for seizing more domestic and international market share. Its higher value and profitability are also expected to contribute to more performance growth in the future.