Chinese tier-one PV manufacturer Trina Solar announced new breakthroughs in increasing conversion efficiencies PV cells on mass production basis. The P-type industrially-produced multi-si PERC cells’ average efficiency reached 20.16%, while the commercially-produced P-type multi-si double print (DP) cells’ efficiency achieved 18.7%.

Both using Trina Solar’s P-type T1 wafers, the two models achieved their new records within a cell area of 156x156mm2. Just a week ago, Trina Solar released that its P-type mono-si PERC cells’ average efficiency set a new record of 21.1% with the same cell size.

Dr. Feng Zhiqiang, Vice President of Trina Solar and Director of the State Key Laboratory of Photovoltaic Science and Technology, commented, "We are pleased to announce efficiency achievements for both our multi-crystalline silicon PERC and DP cells that are based on our self-developed T1 wafers on a mass production basis. The improvements demonstrate our capabilities in continuously transforming lab technology into production practice as well as leveraging our advantages of vertical integration."

The record-breaking multi-si PERC cells are integrated with the Reactive Ion Etching (RIE) process for better light trapping. PV modules consisting of 60 piece of these cells will have a power output of up to 286W.

Trina Solar will continue to focus on applying laboratory technologies into mass production while endeavoring to reduce the solar manufacturing costs in pursuit of delivering low cost yet highly efficient solar products for a more competitive energy resource over traditional fossil fuel power, noted Dr. Feng.