Have you ever seen anything stranger than fiction? And no, we’re not referring to the Will Ferrell movie, but to real-life incidents that took you by surprise. One such example of truth is stranger than fiction is Walter White and the fictional series, Breaking Bad. Another example is the new solar panel record that has been creating a strange effect. Strange or not, it is officially a new era in photovoltaic energy.
It’s a new era for photovoltaic energy
China has officially made its mark on the land down under. During the All Energy Australia 2024 exhibition and conference in Melbourne, the Chinese solar module manufacturer, JinkoSolar Holding Co., Ltd., announced its next-generation solar panels, the Tiger Neo 3.0 modules. The next generation of solar panels will be available in two new series of modules, which will be grounded on N-Type tunnel oxide passivated contact (TOPCon) technology.
JinkoSolar has been hard at work since its founding in 2006 by Xiande Li and Xianhua Li. The Chinese photovoltaic company predicts that the Tiger Neo 3.0 modules should be in Australia’s commercial market from the third quarter of 2025. This new technology shows the company’s dedication to its vision:
Provide a one-stop solution for clean energy and become an industry leader.
The strange effect created by this solar panel
According to Solar N Plus, TOPCon is a progressive solar cell technology that improves energy conversion efficiency by using a thin tunnel oxide coating and a passivated contact fabric on an n-type silicon substrate. This combination decreases recombination losses and enhances charge carrier assembly, which in turn results in increased power output and improved temperature performance. Sounds too good to be true, doesn’t it?
Truth is stranger than fiction. Thanks to TOPCon technology, this solar panel resulted in a ‘strange effect.’ The Tiger Neo 3.0 modules boast an impressive power conversion efficiency of 24.8%. JinkoSolar also confirmed that the next generation solar panels have the following power outputs:
- The NeoDG series has an output of up to 495W
- The NeoUtility series has an output of up to 670W
Both series also include monofacial and bifacial versions, with the latter sporting a bifacial factor of up to 85%.
“In addition, the Tiger Neo 3.0 series has lower VOC and higher Isc, which contributes to lower BOS than its counterparts.” – JinkoSolar.
These solar panels are so much more than just power
These next-generation solar panels also boast some enhanced lifetimes. The NeoUtility series has a 12-year product warranty, while the NeoDG series has a 25-year product warranty. The NeoUtility and NeoDG series each have a 30-year performance warranty with preliminary annual degradation of reportedly 1%, while the annual linear degradation rate of 0.4%.
’The consistently growing TOPCon product cost-performance is delivering unprecedented value across global markets that goes unmatched by any other solar technology currently available.” – JinkoSolar
The two respective series are intended to meet all needs, with the Neo DG series for applications in residential systems and the NeoUtility for large-scale projects. According to Enel Green Power, solar panels in residential systems have benefits beyond their power, including:
- Adaptable installation
- Increasing total home value
- Decreasing the fees of electricity bills
- Energy independence
- Minimal maintenance
- Decreased reliance on fossil fuel-based power plants
- Small carbon footprint
- Mitigating climate change
Truth is indeed stranger than fiction, and the truth is, the future is now. Solar panels such as the next-generation Tiger Neo 3.0 modules play a significant role in the global transition to renewable energy solutions. By developing and implementing these renewable energy solutions, we are one step closer to achieving the global mission of zero carbon by 2050 and thus ensuring that future generations have access to what we enjoy on Earth now.