The photovoltaic industry is entering a stage where every tenth of a percent of efficiency requires more profound modifications to cell architecture. With TopCon modules nearing the technical limits of silicon, manufacturers are already planning the transition to tandem solutions, while China is preparing changes that could accelerate the phasing out of less efficient technologies.
“At TopCon, there is a very important physical limitation to consider, and that is the Shockley-Queisser limit of silicon, which can only receive 30% of the required efficiencies. In the next two or three years, we will see efficiencies that can reach up to 25.5% or 26%,” stated Omar Avila, Regional Sales Manager at Tongwei. This reference refers to the maximum theoretical conversion that a single-junction cell based on this material can achieve.
In this context, Tongwei is beginning to promote its TNC 3.0 module in Latin America , an evolution of its TopCon platform that achieves up to 24.8% efficiency . The product incorporates higher cell density, new cell connections, 360° passivation, and a 5% improvement in bifaciality .
The progress to commercial efficiencies approaching 25% reduces the available margin for further module improvements through incremental adjustments. The next phase will depend on how much manufacturers can optimize the active surface area, connections, and thermal behavior before changing architectures.
The next leap forward would be linked to silicon-perovskite tandem cells , capable of harnessing different portions of the solar spectrum. "In about five years, we'll start to see the mass production of perovskite tandem cells," the executive stated.
The rate of deterioration still limits the bankability of this alternative. Photovoltaic projects are structured over 25- or 30-year horizons , so greater initial efficiency is not enough if the technology does not demonstrate durability and predictability throughout the asset's lifespan.
Latin America, prices and China's new industrial dashboard
Technological acceleration coincides with a geographical reconfiguration of the photovoltaic business. While mature markets are moderating their growth rate, Latin America is gaining relevance for Chinese manufacturers due to increased electricity demand, the need to incorporate new generation capacity, and the advancement of large-scale renewable energy projects.
Tongwei is focusing part of its regional strategy on Colombia, Peru, Ecuador, and Central America , although it also identifies opportunities in Brazil and Argentina. The company notes that Latin American countries are still in a phase of expansion, unlike markets such as China or Spain, where solar deployment has already reached higher levels of maturity.
“Every day we have a higher per capita energy consumption; each person consumes more energy, whether due to the implementation or use of electric stoves, the reduction of energy sources with higher calorific value such as gas or oil, the implementation of electric vehicles, and the development of artificial intelligence,” the executive analyzed.
“Governments are emphasizing the implementation of transmission projects, which is very important in order to include more renewable energy projects within each country's energy mix,” he added.
This scenario explains why Chinese manufacturers are strengthening their presence in Latin America, Africa, and other developing Asian markets. However, this international expansion is occurring while China is preparing measures that could alter the production structure and value of the modules.
In the short term, Tongwei expects solar panel prices to remain relatively stable until the end of 2026. The main fluctuations would be related to logistics and not necessarily to the manufacturing cost of the equipment.
International conflicts, difficulties on some shipping routes, and rising fuel costs increased the cost of transportation. According to Omar, the transport of containers and vehicles increased two to three times in certain destinations.
“In the short term we are going to see more stable prices, because they will remain at levels very similar to those currently existing,” he projected.
However, he asserted that the landscape could change during 2027. According to information shared by the executive, China would move forward with a requirement for domestically produced panels to exceed 23% efficiency, which would reduce the space for lower-performing industrial lines.
The measure would force factories to modernize and accelerate competition for new patents, architectures, and production processes. The market could reduce some of the oversupply based on less efficient technologies and shift the pressure from price to performance.
“That’s going to completely change the game,” Avila warned.
Tongwei also anticipates tax changes on battery production, similar to what happened with solar panels. The adjustment would begin at 2% in April 2027 and add another two percentage points in 2028, reaching 4% .
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The executive estimates that these decisions could lead to increases of between 5% and 10%, although strong competition among manufacturers could limit the full transfer of costs to the international market.
Logistical constraints also influence technological development. Manufacturers cannot indefinitely increase the size of the panels due to container dimensions, transport conditions, and handling difficulties during installation.
Therefore, the focus is on achieving greater power within similar surface areas. Cell density, reduced internal space, and improved connections play a central role in boosting performance without significantly altering the external form.
TNC 3.0: More power on the same surface
In this industrial context, Tongwei presents the TNC 3.0 as its immediate response to the race to increase silicon efficiency . The module not only increases the nominal power but also modifies the arrangement and interconnection of the cells to utilize a greater proportion of the available area.
The technology represents an evolution of the TNC 1.0 and TNC 2.0 platforms. TNC 3.0 incorporates SMBB technology along with a quarter-cut cell architecture, which improves current collection and distribution, reduces resistive losses, and increases the module's efficiency, reliability, and overall performance.
“ I believe the biggest technological leap is primarily the interconnection of cells to avoid blank areas and improve cell density when entering the panel ,” explained the Tongwei representative.
The design partially overlaps the units and incorporates a shock-absorbing element between them. This solution aims to protect them from impacts and mechanical stress , as well as reduce the risk of internal damage during their operational life. " This is a significant technological leap that will allow for a much longer cell lifespan ," the executive emphasized.
The product also incorporates 360° passivation , designed to reduce losses that can occur at the edges during cell cutting. This improvement allows for a higher proportion of power to be preserved without increasing the equipment's external size.
In addition, it has a lower temperature coefficient. This characteristic limits the drop in performance when operating heat increases, a relevant factor in installations located in Latin American regions with high irradiance and high temperatures.
According to Avila, the modifications could represent a jump of approximately four watts per module compared to the company's previous benchmark. This increase would allow for greater electricity production and gradually offset the higher initial cost associated with this cutting-edge technology.
The TNC 3.0 also increases bifaciality by 5% , which increases the absorption of radiation reflected onto the back face.
“ The idea is to make that bell more stable in order to have greater energy production during times of lower solar radiation ,” he added.
These benefits impact the levelized cost of energy. Higher generation per unit area, coupled with controlled degradation, can increase revenue without proportionally increasing the cost of land, structures, cabling, and other system balance components.
“ The adoption of this module will mainly occur for utility-scale projects ,” Avila anticipated.
Tongwei detects interest among generators and investors in Colombia and Peru , where cumulative production is beginning to gain weight compared to a comparison focused solely on the acquisition price.
The second phase would focus on distributed generation, especially in facilities limited by surface area or maximum injection capacity. In these areas, increasing energy density can allow for the installation of more power within the same area.
The commercial and industrial segment would advance later. Tongwei estimates that the technology could expand into that market in the next two or three years , as its availability increases and the price gap with previous generations narrows.
The evolution of TNC 3.0 thus reflects a broader transformation. While TopCon is exploring its final areas for improvement, the Latin American market is becoming a strategic territory for deploying more efficient modules ahead of the future transition to tandem cells.