At Intersolar Europe 2025, AIKO, a leader in back contact solar technology, showcased several new products. In a conversation with Christian Peter, Managing Director of AIKO Solarlab and AIKO Energy, at the company’s booth, TaiyangNews learned more about the company’s latest product developments and its broader vision.
Refining the Flagship
AIKO’s booth featured its flagship ABC (All Back Contact) modules, which have now reached the 3rd generation. Among the highlights was the new INFINITE module, which builds on the ABC cell platform but introduces significant module-level enhancements. Repositioning the string connectors to the back and reducing the inter-cell gaps are the 2 major improvements, according to Peter, which “increased the active area and minimized dead space, pushing the efficiency even further.” The module is based on near gapless technology, where there is a slight gap between the string, while there is no gap between the cells of the same string.
Smarter Modules
Also on display was AIKO’s “Intelligent Module,” which features a smart junction box capable of real-time monitoring of voltage, current, and temperature. What makes it stand out is the communication protocol – data is transmitted through the standard power cable, eliminating the need for additional connectors or external optimizers. “This was a direct response to customer demand for better O&M optimization,” said Peter. “It can be implemented across all generations of Aiko modules during production, making it a flexible yet powerful upgrade.”
Real-World Impact Tests
At its booth, AIKO also live-demonstrated a few tests, such as partial shading, micro-cracks and hotspots, that have high relevance to the real-time operating conditions. Characterizing as his favorite, Peter demonstrated the mechanical robustness of the company’s ABC cells with a hands-on impact test. A 2 kg weight dropped directly onto unencapsulated cells clearly showed the contrast between a conventional n-type TOPCon cell – completely shattered – and AIKO’s ABC cell, which sustained only local impact. This was further substantiated by measuring the current, which dropped 35% for TOPCon and just 16.5% for the ABC cell. Giving some background, Peter explained that there’s significantly less mechanical stress on the ABC cells, as all the contacts are on the backside, which translates to higher resistance to microcracks and better long-term reliability. However, with contacts on both sides, the stress on the TOPCon cell is higher towards the sides as part of the interconnection process.
Strategy & Perspective: Staying Ahead in the BC Race
As back contact technology gains traction across the industry – with major players like LONGi and TCL entering the space and others piloting the approach – AIKO views this growing interest as both a validation and a challenge. The involvement of industry leaders is helping to build market confidence in the technology, which AIKO had to actively promote previously. While this affirms the company’s strategic direction, it also intensifies competition and raises the bar. While the technology is gaining momentum, Peter emphasized that BC remains a complex process with steep learning curves, saying “It’s an art of production—fine-tuned laser and welding techniques, passivation, and precision engineering are all crucial. These are not trivial to replicate.”
BC’s Path Forward
When asked about efficiency and cost optimization, Peter candidly said: “If there were easy wins, everyone would already be doing them.” Still, AIKO is actively working on key fronts – like reducing silver consumption by moving to copper and improving passivation layers. An often overlooked area, he noted, is factory yield: “High manufacturing yield is one of the biggest levers for reducing cost, and it takes experience and deep engineering know-how.”
