The solar industry is witnessing an "efficiency rush" as manufacturers compete to announce products with ever-higher performance levels. Amid overcapacity and record-low prices, improving efficiency has become a key strategy for cutting production costs and reducing the levelized cost of electricity (LCOE) while also standing out in a crowded market. This trend is evident in the flurry of high-efficiency product launches at major trade shows.However, not all of these innovations reach commercial production. Some remain prototypes, and others become part of long-term plans, raising questions about which products are truly ready for real-world deployment.The TaiyangNews TOP SOLAR MODULES Listing aims to bridge this gap. Since 2017, TaiyangNews has been diligently tracking advancements in solar module efficiency through its annual reports on Advanced Module Technologies and several online conferences. With the rapid evolution of the solar sector and significant advancements occurring throughout the year, a dedicated feature article was introduced in early 2022 to provide regular updates on the most efficient commercial solar panels.This feature compiles a monthly list of high-efficiency modules that meet specific predefined criteria, offering a clear overview of the most advanced products in the market. Published in the TOP SOLAR MODULES section on the TaiyangNews website, each update includes a graph, a table, and an article summarizing notable changes. It also features an animation video. The December 2024 feature marks the 36th edition, a milestone achieved over three years.As an extension of this project, TaiyangNews started an excellence badge scheme last year, recognizing those module manufacturers that have featured in the top 10 of the TOP SOLAR MODULES list for at least six months of a calendar year.Beyond individual rankings, analyzing these editions collectively reveals significant industry trends. To highlight these developments, TaiyangNews began publishing in-depth reports, starting with an annual summary for 2022. From 2023, biannual reports analyzed trends for the first half and full year. This fifth and latest report provides a comprehensive summary of 2024, building on insights from previous reports and underscoring the evolving efficiency landscape.An important change adopted in this edition is the omission of 2022 data to present easy-to-read graphs while still providing a base for comparison. The data for 2022 remains accessible in previous reports and can be downloaded for free. Thus, this edition’s scope is limited to analyzing the TOP SOLAR MODULES features published in 2023 and 2024—essentially, the last 24 editions.TaiyangNews started an excellence badge scheme in 2023 for its TOP SOLAR MODULES ranking, which was extended to 2024. Those module manufacturers featured in the top 10 for at least 6 months of a calendar year are qualified to claim this badge of excellence. Here are the winners of the TaiyangNews Excellence Badge for 2024: AIKO Solar, LONGi, Maxeon, Huasun, JA Solar, Tongwei, Astronergy, SPIC, DMEGC and JinkoSolar.
