Astronergy’s UVID Resilient TOPCon Module
Source：taiyangnews
Vertically Integrated PV Company Presented Insight Into TOPCon Module Products Featuring Advanced Cell Technology
Mainstream cell technology: Astronergy's TOPCon cell manufacturing capacity to touch 59 GW by the end of 2024. (Photo credit: TaiyangNews)
The transition from PERC to TOPCon as a mainstream cell technology is expected to capture more than 50% of the market share by the end of 2024 and over 80% by 2025, according to reports from BloombergNEF and InfoLink Consulting. Additionally, in its August 2024 high-efficiency cell technology capacity planning report, InfoLink Consulting forecasts a TOPCon capacity of over 2 TW by 2028. However, this significant increase in capacity introduces a critical reliability risk related to ultraviolet-induced degradation (UVID). To mitigate this risk, several manufacturers are advancing both cell and module technologies.
Sibin Yang, Product Solution Engineer at Astronergy, shared an overview of the TOPCon market and the latest advancements in cell and module technology at the TaiyangNews Reliable PV Module Design Conference 2024. Astronergy, a vertically integrated PV manufacturer with a global presence – including in the Americas, Turkey, Thailand, Europe, and Saudi Arabia – is projected to reach 76 GW capacity in module production and 65 GW in cell production by 2024, with 59 GW of that total dedicated to TOPCon technology.
Upgraded Cell Technology
The UVID degradation mechanism in TOPCon cells occurs when ultraviolet (UV) energy causes the redistribution of hydrogen near the passivation and silicon (Si) interface. This leads to carrier recombination at the surface, reducing both the open-circuit voltage (Voc) and the fill factor (FF) of the cell. Astronergy has addressed this issue by optimizing the front-side passivation film layer, improving its density, UV resistance, regulated hydrogen content, and incorporating a high-quality AlOx layer.
The company has adopted plate-type atomic layer deposition (ALD) technology in place of tube-type ALD technology to improve the aluminum oxide (Al2O3) thin film layer deposition. The plate-type ALD method involves placing 2 plates between which gases flow in a single direction, allowing for more precise control over gas distribution. This enables the precise adjustment of film thickness down to the atomic level. The high planarity of the bottom-up growth mechanism ensures a pinhole-free surface, which enhances the UV resistance of the film. Additionally, the uniformity and greater density of the Al2O3 thin film layer produced by plate-type ALD improve its conformality with the textured silicon surface, leading to better densification.
As a result, the front-side Al2O3 thin film layer produced using plate-type ALD technology shows a significantly lower UV-induced degradation rate of less than 1% for the TOPCon module, according to the company.
Module
On the module side, Astronergy offers the ASTRO N7 series module, equipped with TOPCon 4.0 cell technology. This module, designed for utility-scale applications, features a 210R rectangular wafer, SMBB, 2-layer high-transmittance glass, and light-redirecting film (LRF), with a power output of up to 620 W. For residential applications, the company offers the ASTRO N7s series module, which incorporates 0 busbars (0BB) and tiling film technology. This residential module, measuring 1,762 x 1,134 mm and using 191R size 54 cells, has a power output of up to 460 W. However, the 1,961 x 1,134 mm module with 60 cells of 191R size can produce up to 500 W of power.