Abstract
Tunnel oxide passivated contact TOPCon is poised to emerge as the
predominant technology in photovoltaic (PV) cells, yet significant
reliability issues remain unresolved. This study conducts a comparative
analysis of 20 TOPCon PV module types, utilizing a range of electrical
characterization and accelerated aging assessments. This investigation
provides a detailed evaluation of the electrical performance, resulting
in an Energy Rating of the modules, establishing a benchmark for
cutting-edge TOPCon technology. While some failure modes, such as LeTID,
appear to be non-critical, the findings confirm previously identified
degradation pathways in TOPCon modules due to moisture penetration.
During UV exposure, a novel degradation pattern was observed during the
indoor tests, showing severe losses (up to -12% after 120 kWh/m
2), followed by recovery after humidity
freeze-testing, which may influence outdoor performance and the outcomes
of certification tests (IEC61730-2, Sequence B). The results highlight
the areas of need for more targeted testing and technological
refinement.