Record studded ANU–Jinko partnership redefines TOPCon’s near term prospects to over 27%

In front of a full auditorium at the IEEE PVSC in Montreal, one of the world’s leading silicon solar cell experts presented a compelling analysis of Jinko Solar’s record-setting 26.7% TOPCon cell, outlining the next steps that will push mass production efficiencies beyond 27% within just a few years.

 

Since 2016, the Australian National University’s Professor Dan Macdonald and his PV Research Group have partnered with Jinko Solar, the world’s largest solar cell manufacturer, forging a powerful collaboration that has delivered a string of world-record efficiencies for industrial TOPCon cells – 24.8% in 2020, 25.4% in 2021 and 26.7% this year.

Professor Dan Macdonald presented a compelling analysis of Jinko Solar’s record-setting 26.7% TOPCon cell, outlining the next steps that will push mass production efficiencies beyond 27% within just a few years, at IEEE PVSC in Montreal.

Supported by ARENA and ACAP, the partnership is defined by its ability to rapidly translate laboratory breakthroughs into scalable, cost-effective industrial solutions. Macdonald says the timeline between identifying a loss mechanism and implementing a solution in mass production can be as short as 12 months.

Macdonald says the timeline between identifying a loss mechanism and implementing a solution in mass production can be as short as 12 months.

The partnership is made more potent with the collaboration of Associate Professor James Bullock and his team at the University of Melbourne (UoM), bringing unique capabilities including their state-of-the-art soft sputtering system for depositing ultra-thin, low-damage contacts. Combined with ANU’s comprehensive fabrication and advanced characterisation facilities, the collective team can develop and test new materials and structures with unprecedented precision.

A critical enabler of these achievements is the use of advanced simulation and analysis tools. SunSolve and Quokka, provided via PV Lighthouse, allow detailed optical and electrical modelling of cells, pinpointing exactly where efficiency losses occur – whether from surface recombination, resistive losses, or shading by metal contacts. Thanks to ARENA, these tools are freely available to Australian researchers to accelerate progress across the sector.

“Without access to these tools, we wouldn’t be able to break down different losses in detail or identify the most effective pathway to improving cell performance,” says Macdonald.

Loss analysis of champion Jinko TOPCon cell, showing the primary loss mechanisms, and pathways for improvement.

Picking the low hanging fruit on the path to > 27% efficiencies

Through systematic mapping and mitigation of loss mechanisms, Macdonald’s team has closed the “voltage gap” and identified pathways to approach the theoretical efficiency limit of silicon (~29.5%).

“The big takeaway is that almost no bulk defects remain in the silicon. The last performance challenges are now engineering problems that industry can resolve,” Prof. Macdonald explains.

Looking ahead, the opportunities lie in better light management, smarter contact design, and thinner wafers.

 • In the near term (1–3 years) manufacturers can push standard TOPCon into the 27% range with incremental, scalable improvements.

• Medium-term (3–7 years) will see the emergence of back-contact designs, allowing efficiencies above 27.5%  – especially valuable for rooftop and space-constrained markets.

• Long-term these advances pave the way for silicon-based tandem cells above 30%, which will leverage savings across the value chain. “Every fractional efficiency gain translates into billions of dollars in savings across gigawatts of deployment,” Macdonald emphasises.

The partnership enjoys deep trust between collaborators. Jinko Solar’s Chief Scientist Dr Hao Jin, and Vice President R&D Dr. Xinyu Zhang are both ANU alumni, while ACAP fellowships throughout the partnership have trained a new generation of PV leaders. These connections ensure ongoing knowledge transfer and collaboration.

Dr. Xinyu Zhang said, “ANU and Jinko have worked together for many years – exploring new materials, innovative cell structures, and breakthrough processing methods. The collaboration has delivered advancement of technologies and products across the entire photovoltaic industry.”

With rapid innovation cycles and a clear roadmap, the ANU–Jinko–UoM partnership is set to keep Australia and its partners at the forefront of global solar technology, driving down the cost of clean energy worldwide.

Professor Dan Macdonald's PV Silicon research team at ANU.