{"id":163743,"date":"2025-12-22T10:30:00","date_gmt":"2025-12-22T10:30:00","guid":{"rendered":"https:\/\/www.pv-tech.org\/?p=163743"},"modified":"2025-12-19T14:36:00","modified_gmt":"2025-12-19T14:36:00","slug":"the-pv-review-2025-a-year-of-performance-and-reliability-issues-for-topcon-and-n-type-solar-pv-modules","status":"publish","type":"post","link":"https:\/\/www.pv-tech.org\/the-pv-review-2025-a-year-of-performance-and-reliability-issues-for-topcon-and-n-type-solar-pv-modules\/","title":{"rendered":"The PV Review, 2025: A year of performance and reliability issues for TOPCon and n-type solar PV modules"},"content":{"rendered":"\n<figure class=\"wp-block-image size-large\"><img fetchpriority=\"high\" decoding=\"async\" width=\"1024\" height=\"779\" src=\"https:\/\/www.pv-tech.org\/wp-content\/uploads\/2025\/07\/UVID-Chambers-Kiwa-PVEL-1024x779.jpg\" alt=\"UVID chamber testing solar panels\" class=\"wp-image-157975\" srcset=\"https:\/\/www.pv-tech.org\/wp-content\/uploads\/2025\/07\/UVID-Chambers-Kiwa-PVEL-1024x779.jpg 1024w, https:\/\/www.pv-tech.org\/wp-content\/uploads\/2025\/07\/UVID-Chambers-Kiwa-PVEL-300x228.jpg 300w, https:\/\/www.pv-tech.org\/wp-content\/uploads\/2025\/07\/UVID-Chambers-Kiwa-PVEL-768x585.jpg 768w, https:\/\/www.pv-tech.org\/wp-content\/uploads\/2025\/07\/UVID-Chambers-Kiwa-PVEL.jpg 1051w\" sizes=\"(max-width: 1024px) 100vw, 1024px\" \/><figcaption class=\"wp-element-caption\">UV degradation was among the three most common test failures from Kiwa PVEL&#8217;s module testing this year. Image: Kiwa PVEL.<\/figcaption><\/figure>\n\n\n\n<p><a href=\"https:\/\/www.pv-tech.org\/tag\/2025-review\/\" target=\"_blank\" rel=\"noreferrer noopener\">As the year comes to a close<\/a>, there is no doubt that this was the year of consolidation for tunnel oxide passivated contact (TOPCon) technology, which is poised to continue its market dominance for several more years. The n-type technology had already taken the torch from passivated emitter rear contact (PERC) last year, but that technological change also came with its set of quality issues.<\/p>\n\n\n\n<p>Throughout 2025, we\u2019ve seen several research papers and reports from organisations, such as <a href=\"https:\/\/www.pv-tech.org\/tag\/fraunhofer-ise\/\" target=\"_blank\" rel=\"noreferrer noopener\">Fraunhofer ISE<\/a> and others, highlighting performance issues of n-type modules. Even though these problems were already brought to light in 2024, instead of being solved, they seem to have worsened.<\/p>\n\n\n\n<p>Indeed, Kiwa PVEL\u2019s 2025 Module Reliability Scorecard, which was published in June, <a href=\"https:\/\/www.pv-tech.org\/record-83-module-test-failure-in-kiwa-pvels-2025-module-reliability-scorecard\/\" target=\"_blank\" rel=\"noreferrer noopener\">registered an 83% module test failure rate this year<\/a>, up from 66% a year ago.<\/p>\n\n\n\n<p>The most common test failures from Kiwa PVEL\u2019s Scorecard <a href=\"https:\/\/www.pv-tech.org\/quality-traceability-and-ai-pv-moduletech-europes-key-takeaways\/\" target=\"_blank\" rel=\"noreferrer noopener\">were UV-induced degradation (UVID), glass breakage and delamination<\/a> (subscription required), as was highlighted by Kiwa PVEL\u2019s VP of sales and marketing, Tristan Erion-Lorico, during <a href=\"https:\/\/www.pvtechconferences.com\/pv-moduletech-europe\/\" target=\"_blank\" rel=\"noreferrer noopener\">PV ModuleTech Europe<\/a> at the beginning of December in M\u00e1laga, Spain. The event features presentations on quality issues, such as module breakage and UVID, during its two-day span.<\/p>\n\n\n\n<p>Moreover, delamination defects were recently at the centre of a <a href=\"https:\/\/www.pv-tech.org\/digging-into-delamination-distress-why-too-many-pv-modules-are-failing-at-the-edges\/\" target=\"_blank\" rel=\"noreferrer noopener\">guest article from Kiwa PVEL<\/a>, which looked at that problem and how a different bill of materials (BOM) can impact a module\u2019s reliability and testing different BOM can yield different results. Delamination in a module can occur for several reasons, including poor materials choice, usage of thinner encapsulants and\/or poor lamination processes.<\/p>\n\n\n\n<h2 class=\"wp-block-heading\" id=\"h-critical-degradation-in-topcon-modules\">\u2018Critical\u2019 degradation in TOPCon modules<\/h2>\n\n\n\n<p>As mentioned at the beginning of the article, one of the technologies at the centre of most of these reliability and quality issues is TOPCon. A recent paper by German researchers, including from Fraunhofer ISE, compared 20 TOPCon PV modules in a range of electrical characterisation and accelerated ageing assessments and <a href=\"https:\/\/www.pv-tech.org\/critical-topcon-module-degradation-is-in-contrast-to-long-panel-warranties\/\" target=\"_blank\" rel=\"noreferrer noopener\">found \u201csignificant reliability issues that remain unresolved\u201d<\/a>.<\/p>\n\n\n\n<p>According to the paper, despite TOPCon showing resistance to light- and temperature-induced degradation (LeTID) and light-induced degradation (LID), \u201cconcerns persist\u201d around the technology\u2019s vulnerability to potential-induced degradation (PID), corrosion and UVID.<\/p>\n\n\n\n<p>In its conclusions, the paper said that degradation from UVID and moisture ingress in particular were \u201ccritical\u201d. One of the issues also mentioned in the paper was that current testing standards for commercially available modules is that it generally does not register the power loss from degradation if it does not result in safety issues or a complete failure.<\/p>\n\n\n\n<p>Another study, this time from scientists at the National Renewable Energy Laboratory (NREL)\u2014<a href=\"https:\/\/www.pv-tech.org\/renewable-energy-stripped-from-nrels-name-in-shift-of-priorities\/\" target=\"_blank\" rel=\"noreferrer noopener\">known now as the National Laboratory of the Rockies<\/a>\u2014called for enhanced global standards to detect UVID in PV modules after <a href=\"https:\/\/www.pv-tech.org\/nrel-study-reveals-high-uv-degradation-in-n-type-modules\/\" target=\"_blank\" rel=\"noreferrer noopener\">identifying \u201csevere\u201d levels of the problem in operational n-type modules<\/a>.<\/p>\n\n\n\n<p>The researchers studied passivated emitter rear totally diffused (n-PERT) modules in a 3MW operational PV system that was identified by the owner as underperforming.<\/p>\n\n\n\n<p>Another piece of research, published in August and led by academics at the University of New South Wales (UNSW), highlighted that greater awareness of the type of UV light used to test TOPCon solar cells <a href=\"https:\/\/www.pv-tech.org\/uvid-is-particularly-concerning-for-topcon-cells-unsw\/\" target=\"_blank\" rel=\"noreferrer noopener\">could result in faster and more efficient assessments of long-term performance<\/a>.<\/p>\n\n\n\n<p>\u201cUVID is particularly concerning due to the increasing use of UV-transparent encapsulants in photovoltaic modules, which enhances module efficiency but exposes solar cells to UV radiation during operation,\u201d said the UNSW researchers.<\/p>\n\n\n\n<p>However, the conclusions of a Fraunhofer ISE study completed in April are more encouraging, showing that <a href=\"https:\/\/www.pv-tech.org\/topcon-uv-tests-exaggerate-degradation-issues-fraunhofer-ise\/\" target=\"_blank\" rel=\"noreferrer noopener\">concerns over the performance of TOPCon cells following UV exposure may be exaggerated<\/a>. According to Fraunhofer\u2019s researchers, common methods used to test for UV degradation can overstate the extent of the issue compared to what is experienced in the field.<\/p>\n\n\n\n<p>The research indicated that UV degradation during testing destabilises modules to such an extent that they significantly lose efficiency during dark storage after UV exposure. Subsequent exposure to sunlight, however, leads to significant recovery, yielding degradation measurements closer to the values \u200b\u200bactually measured in practice.<\/p>\n\n\n\n<p>In a recent interview with <em>PV Tech Premium<\/em>, Steven Xuereb, executive director of Kiwa PI Berlin, said that <a href=\"https:\/\/www.pv-tech.org\/navigating-the-challenges-of-topcon-insights-from-the-frontline\/\" target=\"_blank\" rel=\"noreferrer noopener\">module manufacturers have been making efforts to address the UV degradation issues<\/a> that have been observed in laboratories.<\/p>\n\n\n\n<p>Xuereb added that one of the challenges around UV degradation is due to the meta-stability of TOPCon cells, which means they degrade when stored in dark conditions but recover when re-exposed to light.<\/p>\n\n\n\n<h2 class=\"wp-block-heading\" id=\"h-manufacturers-reducing-costs\">Manufacturers reducing costs<\/h2>\n\n\n\n<p>One of the possible causes of the continued trend of quality issues can be associated with the <a href=\"https:\/\/www.pv-tech.org\/pv-manufacturing-downturn-to-extend-into-2026\/\" target=\"_blank\" rel=\"noreferrer noopener\">ongoing downturn<\/a> in the solar manufacturing industry, with the top four major Chinese manufacturers <a href=\"https:\/\/www.pv-tech.org\/chinas-top-four-solar-manufacturers-suffer-1-54-billion-losses-h1-2025\/\" target=\"_blank\" rel=\"noreferrer noopener\">reporting a combined US$1.54 billion in net losses in the first half of the year<\/a>.<\/p>\n\n\n\n<p>As prices of modules and other components of the supply chain have remained quite low throughout the year, companies have tried to reduce costs in producing modules in order to reduce the losses incurred.<\/p>\n\n\n\n<p>\u201cThey\u2019re going to thinner encapsulants,\u201d Erion-Lorico said to <a href=\"https:\/\/www.pv-tech.org\/module-quality-is-suffering-as-pv-producers-cut-costs\/\" target=\"_blank\" rel=\"noreferrer noopener\"><em>PV Tech Premium<\/em><\/a> (subscription required) in June. \u201cThey\u2019re probably trying to laminate quicker. The due process changes are made to have higher throughput, to try to limit the amount of money being lost.<\/p>\n\n\n\n<p>\u201cThese nine-cent modules, eight-cent modules, the assumption is that those modules are still reliable and they\u2019ll last the warranty period. But we\u2019re seeing that manufacturers have tried to remove materials, remove costs from those modules, to cut their losses, and that presents reliability risks. I think it\u2019s more about that than something inherent in TOPCon or n-type versus p-type.\u201d<\/p>\n\n\n\n<p>In that same interview, Erion-Lorico highlighted the increase in test failures for the mechanical stress sequence (MSS). However, glass breakage is not a new issue across the wider PV lab community and technical advisory community, as it was raised a few years ago already.<\/p>\n\n\n\n<p>In September, technical advisor for PV and battery storage quality assurance, Kiwa PI Berlin, called for greater <a href=\"https:\/\/www.pv-tech.org\/inside-the-race-to-pv-cell-quality-and-compliance\/\" target=\"_blank\" rel=\"noreferrer noopener\">due diligence in solar PV cells quality and compliance<\/a> in a guest article on <em>PV Tech<\/em>.<\/p>\n\n\n\n<p>Finally, Xuereb highlighted the challenges of drawing conclusions due to the limited field data available and separate out TOPCon-specific performance issues that may be occurring from other forms of degradation.<\/p>\n\n\n\n<p>Quality and performance issues have arisen all year round, and was the cover story in the latest edition of our journal, <a href=\"https:\/\/www.pv-tech.org\/publication-issues\/pv-tech-power-volume-44\/\" target=\"_blank\" rel=\"noreferrer noopener\"><em>PV Tech Power 44<\/em><\/a>; our subscribers have full access to this and all previous editions of <em>PV Tech Power<\/em>.<\/p>\n\n\n\n<p><em><a href=\"https:\/\/www.pv-tech.org\/tag\/2025-review\/\" target=\"_blank\" rel=\"noreferrer noopener\">Read more from our 2025 Review series here<\/a><\/em>.<\/p>\n\n\n\n<p><\/p>\n","protected":false},"excerpt":{"rendered":"<p>The PV Review, 2025: this year has seen many papers and reports on solar PV modules reliability and performance issues, especially with TOPCon.<\/p>\n","protected":false},"author":158,"featured_media":157975,"comment_status":"closed","ping_status":"closed","sticky":false,"template":"","format":"standard","meta":{"_acf_changed":false,"inline_featured_image":false,"footnotes":""},"categories":[2,45,6],"tags":[13681,13293,9754,2186,428,13190,12530],"paywall-tags":[],"regions":[29,30],"industry-segments":[8,14],"class_list":["post-163743","post","type-post","status-publish","format-standard","has-post-thumbnail","hentry","category-editors-blog","category-features","category-long-reads","tag-2025-review","tag-delamination","tag-module-frame","tag-reliability","tag-topcon","tag-uv-degradation-2","tag-uvid","regions-americas","regions-asia-oceania","industry-segments-manufacturing","industry-segments-modules"],"acf":[],"yoast_head":"<!-- This site is optimized with the Yoast SEO Premium plugin v26.4 (Yoast SEO v26.4) - 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