Imec, Jolywood achieve 23.2% efficiency for bifacial n-PERT solar cells

Belgium-based nanoelectronics research company Imec and China’s Jolywood (Taizhou) Solar Technology Co Ltd have achieved a record 23.2% front-side conversion efficiency for n-PERT solar cells.

The passivated emitter and rear totally diffused (n-PERT) cells were developed by Imec and Jolywood and the companies believe their efficiency will soon surpass 23.5%, with a bifaciality above 90%, the Chinese firm said on Monday. Jolywood, a manufacturer of n-type bifacial solar cells and modules, explained that the n-PERT technology has several inherent advantages over the p-type PERC cell technology, including higher efficiencies and the absence of light induced degradation (LID).

The 23.2% result was achieved with a batch of 12 M2-sized cells, of 244.3 sq cm, with a bifaciality of over 80%. When used under standard front illumination conditions in conjunction with an additional 0.15 sun rear illumination, the cells can achieve an effective conversion efficiency of nearly 26%.

"[..], we believe n-type technology can contribute to the industry with high performance, high reliability and low levelised cost of energy (LCOE),” said Jia Chen, R&D director at Jolywood, adding that the combination of different technology know-how will enable the company to boost the efficiency of its bifacial n-type solar cells to over 24% very soon.

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