China's Longi sets new efficiency record for single-junction silicon solar cells
The Chinese manufacturer's 28.29% result is its third record this year and brings silicon cells close to their theoretical limit.
Chinese solar manufacturer Longi said Sept. 24 that one of its silicon solar cells converted 28.29% of sunlight into electricity, a world record for single-junction crystalline silicon cells.
The result, verified by Germany's Institute for Solar Energy Research Hamelin (ISFH), beats the 28.13% record Longi set in May. The company has now broken the record three times this year.
The cell uses a hybrid interdigitated back contact (HIBC) design, which places the electrical contacts on the back of the cell so more of the front surface can capture light. Longi said crystalline silicon cells have now reached 96.2% of their theoretical efficiency limit.
In a scientific paper published last November, the company described the design's layers for reducing energy losses at the cell's surfaces and edges. Longi said the technology could be scaled up for manufacturing, though it still needs to reduce electrical losses in part of the cell.
Higher efficiency lets panels produce more electricity from the same area, which helps lower the cost of solar power.
This brief is based on reporting by Emiliano Bellini, published Sept. 24, 2026, in pv magazine. Read the original: https://www.pv-magazine.com/2026/09/24/longi-sets-28-29-world-record-for-single-junction-silicon-solar-cell-efficiency/
This article was produced with the assistance of AI tools and reviewed by an editor before publication.
