After a year and a half of extensive research in heterojunction (HJT) solar cells, China-based LONGi Green Energy Technology said it has achieved a record efficiency of 26.81% for its HJT silicon solar cells on full-size silicon wafers through mass production.

The efficiency was confirmed and certified in a report by Germany-based Institut für Solarenergieforschung in Hamelin.

LONGi’s accelerated the research and development in HJT delivered 1.55% more efficiency to reach 26.81% compared to 25.26% achieved last year.

LONGi Founder and President said Li Zhenguo, “Improving the efficiency and reducing the LCOE (levelized cost of energy) is the eternal theme of the development of the photovoltaic industry. Every 0.01% improvement in solar cell conversion efficiency requires enormous efforts. In particular, crystalline silicon solar cells account for nearly 95% of the current photovoltaic market, so the ultimate efficiency of crystalline silicon solar cells also shows the development potential and direction of the photovoltaic industry, which is of great significance in the entire photovoltaic industry.”

Professor at the University of New South Wales Martin Green said that the 26.81% efficiency achieved by LONGi is the highest silicon solar cell efficiency worldwide.

“This outstanding achievement will be included in the next version of efficiency tables that is published in the progress in photovoltaics. This is the first time in the history of the photovoltaic industry that a Chinese solar technology company has set the world record for silicon solar cell efficiency,” Green said.

The new world record set by LONGi has been recognized by the International Energy Agency, the Energy Transformation Commission, the World Business Council for Sustainable Development, and industry associations like Australia’s Smart Energy Council, Renewables in Africa, and the Association of Chile Energy Solar.

LONGi was one of the five module suppliers which led the Indian solar market during the first half of 2022.

LONGi posted a year-over-year increase of 44% in net revenue at ¥50.4 billion (~$7.32 billion) for the first half (1H) of the financial year (FY) 2022.