Chinese solar cell module breaks world record for photoelectric conversion efficiency

China's State-owned Triumph Science & Technology Group Co Ltd announced on Thursday that the photoelectric conversion efficiency of a copper indium gallium selenium (CIGS) solar cell module manufactured by its affiliate registered a world record 20.3 percent.

This means the CIGS solar cell module is the world's first thin film photovoltaic module to exceed the 20 percent threshold in terms of photoelectric conversion efficiency.

The module was manufactured by Avancis, an enterprise based in Germany that is affiliated with the China National Building Material Group's Research Institute for Advanced Glass Materials, which is affiliated with Triumph Science & Technology Group.

This breakthrough will further promote the development of sustainable energy and contribute to the global transformation of renewable energy, according to the group.

The conversion efficiency data of the CIGS solar cell module was validated independently by the National Renewable Energy Laboratory of the United States on May 11.

The company first manufactured a CIGS solar cell module of the same size in December 2021. The photoelectric conversion efficiency of that module was 19.8 percent, a world record then.