The transition to TOPCon technology, which improves passivation paths and minimises electron recombination (or losses) to enhance energy conversion, has been described as a significant advancement in the solar technology industry. The technology offers efficiencies of 22.3-22.8% and a bifaciality factor of 80%, compared to PERC’s 70%, and can add multi-millions in annual revenue for large-scale solar plants. TOPCon also offers a better temperature coefficient than PERC, leading to higher production in hot conditions. According to Clean Energy Associate’s (CEA) latest market intelligence, TOPCon is expected to represent half of global capacity by the end of this year, with PERC capacity expected to dwindle to less than 25% and be completely phased out by 2028. However, the US market may lag behind due to limited domestic supply, with manufacturers increasing production to meet soaring demand. The introduction of TOPCon has added a new variable to the supply chain contracting process, making it more complicated in the short term. Pricing remains a crucial factor in module procurement strategy as manufacturers are reducing PERC modules’ prices to make room for TOPCon.
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
