Among all the next-generation solar PV technologies, high efficiency has become the hallmark for back contact (BC) technology. By placing all the contacts and junctions at the back of the cell and with no obstructions created by metal gridlines on the surface, the panel generates higher efficiency, leading to stable power output.  

This architecture also lends it an aesthetic look, perfect for homeowners who like to blend aesthetics with utility, especially in Europe.   

Leading BC technology company AIKO says it fits into both categories with its high-efficiency All Back Contact (ABC) products. Its sleek black look panels achieve both superior performance and an attractive design that blends well with European roofs – both for the residential and commercial and industrial (C&I) segments. According to AIKO, it has led the adoption of this technology in Germany, driving improvements in performance, production, and cost, and boosting its popularity in rooftop applications. 

The company claims its ABC technology delivers 6% to 10% higher power output (up to 40% more) compared to competing technologies. AIKO has further refined the BC technology with its proprietary InvisiRibbon and ZeroGap technologies, which it says increase the effective production area by 1.8%. Partial shading optimization generates up to 30% more electricity than conventional modules, it adds. 

These modules also meet aesthetic standards expected by European homeowners, while also offering better returns over TOPCon, says AIKO. It notes that its 490 W ABC black frame module, available in both mono-glass and glass-glass variants, can deliver 7.7% higher capacity and 11.7% greater returns per W in the same area versus a 455 W TOPCon module in a 30-year lifecycle.