The next generation of solar technology is set to revolutionize the amount of energy solar can produce, where it can be deployed, and how long it can last. Chris Deline, a research engineer who leads the National Renewable Energy Laboratory’s photovoltaic field performance group, said the industry had largely switched from aluminum back surface field solar, or Al-BSF, cells to passivated emitter rear contact, or PERC, cells over the past five years. N-type cells have their wafers doped negatively using chemicals like phosphorus, which increases their ability to conduct electricity. Experts predict that TOPCon will increase from around 10% in 2022 to up to 60% globally within the next decade, and become the dominant cell type after 2025. Despite this, First Solar is committed to thin film technology in the form of cadmium telluride, or CdTe, which is currently the most popular panel technology for utility-scale deployments.
Solar Dominates US Energy Capacity Growth
The Federal Energy Regulatory Commission (FERC) has published data showing that solar accounted for over 75% of US electrical generating
