The efficiency and cost of photovoltaic module power generation are issues of concern to module manufacturers, and photovoltaic cells are important components of photovoltaic modules, which can determine the conversion efficiency and cost of photovoltaic modules. Therefore, in order to reduce the cost of photovoltaic modules, photovoltaic cells need to be the starting point.

　　At present, crystalline silicon battery technology is the mainstream technology for photovoltaic cells, with a market share of over 95%. According to the raw materials, it can be divided into polycrystalline silicon photovoltaic modules, monocrystalline silicon photovoltaic modules, and amorphous silicon photovoltaic modules. Polycrystalline silicon photovoltaic modules are photovoltaic modules processed from polycrystalline silicon wafers, and polycrystalline silicon is manufactured using ingot casting technology using polycrystalline silicon block materials, with a power generation efficiency typically around 17%; Single crystal silicon photovoltaic modules are processed from single crystal silicon wafers. Single crystal silicon is manufactured using high-purity single crystal silicon using a rod pulling process, and the power generation efficiency can reach about 22%.

　　Monocrystalline silicon photovoltaic modules can be divided into P-type photovoltaic modules and N-type photovoltaic modules.

　　1. P-type photovoltaic module: A photovoltaic module assembled using P-type solar cells. P-type solar cells are silicon wafers that infiltrate the trivalent element "boron" during the doping process of the cells, and "gallium" can also be added. The conversion rate of photovoltaic modules for P-type batteries has been mass-produced in 2023, ranging from approximately 21.1% to 21.5%.

　　2. N-type photovoltaic module: A photovoltaic module assembled using N-type solar cells. N-type solar cells are silicon wafers that infiltrate the pentavalent element "phosphorus" during the doping process of the cells, and "arsenic" can also be added. The conversion rate of photovoltaic modules produced in 2023 for N-type batteries is approximately 22.1% to 22.5%.

　　Comparison of Technology Routes for P-type Photovoltaic Modules and N-type Photovoltaic Modules

　　(1) P-type battery cell technology route

　　1. BSF technology, also known as aluminum back field battery and aluminum back field passivation technology, has a conversion efficiency of less than 20%. In 2015, it was the mainstream battery technology in the photovoltaic industry and occupied 90% of the market. Due to its low conversion rate, it is now basically phased out.

　　2. PERC technology refers to emitter passivation and back contact technology. The conversion efficiency is about 23%. Currently, mainstream technology has the highest market share, and most P-type photovoltaic modules use PERC technology, with an actual conversion rate of over 21%. In 2020, the proportion of PERC batteries in the global market exceeded 85%, and currently it is mainly double-sided PERC.

　　(2) N-type battery cell technology route

　　1. The IBC full back electrode contact battery has steadily improved its conversion efficiency year by year, with an average conversion efficiency of 24.5% in mass production and a theoretical upper limit of 26.2%.

　　2. HJT heterojunction battery, an intrinsic thin film heterojunction battery technology, is based on crystalline silicon solar cells as the substrate, and then superimposed with thin film solar technology. The main classification still belongs to the N-type module technology route. There are two types of heterojunction batteries, HJT and HIT, with an average conversion efficiency of 24.73% in mass production and a theoretical upper limit of 27.5%.

　　3. TNC passivation contact battery, currently the mass production conversion efficiency of TNC battery has exceeded 25.1%

　　4. TOPCon oxide layer passivation contact battery technology has a maximum efficiency of over 25% in mass production, with a theoretical conversion efficiency limit of 28.7%.

　　(3) Who has more development prospects for P-type and N-type photovoltaic modules

　　1. The theoretical ultimate efficiency of N-type TOPCon batteries is 28.7%, and the conversion rate of mass-produced N-type photovoltaic modules in the market is around 22.1% to 22.5%. There is still significant room for improvement in subsequent technologies.

　　2. The theoretical ultimate efficiency of P-type PERC batteries is 24.5%, and the conversion rate of mass-produced P-type photovoltaic modules is currently around 21.1% to 21.5%. The technological development space is approaching the bottleneck, and there is little room for further technological improvement.

　　3. According to the latest technological trends of various battery cell manufacturers, the P-type mainly focuses on PERC technology, while the N-type has four or five types of battery cell technology in progress. Although the current production of N-type photovoltaic modules is low and the price is high, in the long run, the market share of N-type photovoltaic modules will surpass that of P-type photovoltaic modules and become mainstream photovoltaic module products.