Some of the survey’s notable findings are:

Surface Preparation continues to evolve, with wet-bench suppliers introducing new chemical formulations for better texturing and reflectivity control. Inline solutions are redefining throughput capabilities, while wastewater management is becoming a new priority.

Emitter Formation has undergone a rapid transformation. Selective emitters, once experimental, are now mainstream, and the adoption of laser-assisted metallization is pushing manufacturers back to blanket emitters with ultra-high sheet resistance.

Passivation remains a cornerstone for efficiency gains. LPCVD and PECVD dominate, but PVD is gaining traction for its cost and safety benefits, while edge passivation after laser slicing is emerging as a niche.

Metallization is seeing one of the most disruptive shifts, with laser-assisted techniques enabling finer fingers and savings of silver, the most expensive part of the solar cell. Moreover, decoupling from emitter formation is taking place – a breakthrough that could accelerate mass adoption of TOPCon.

Industry Voices: Equipment Innovation at the Core of PV’s Future

According to Michael Schmela, Managing Director of TaiyangNews, the results of the survey show the importance of the equipment supply chain to continue  on its cost reduction path. “The solar equipment industry continues to demonstrate its remarkable ability to support technology transitions. After enabling the shift from PERC to TOPCon, suppliers are now paving the way for multiple high-efficiency architectures to reach mass production at cost-competitive levels, and prepare the jump to next-gen cell technologies. This is critical at a time when the industry urgently needs to overcome an overcapacity situation that is lasting too long, severely eating into profits levels needed for research on, and investments in, next-gen technologies.”

Shravan Chunduri, Head of Technology at TaiyangNews, and the main author of the market survey, said, “This year’s report shows how production equipment suppliers are not only refining mainstream processes like screen printing but are also pushing revolutionary approaches such as laser-assisted metallization and advanced passivation techniques. The pace of innovation in production equipment will define how fast and cost-effectively next-gen solar cell technologies can be scaled.” He stressed that innovation at the equipment level is laying the foundation for the solar industry’s future.

Beyond TOPCon: Preparing for Perovskites and Next-Gen PV 

The report also includes a section on ancillary tools – such as lasers, cell characterization instruments, and deposition solutions for perovskites – highlighting how suppliers are already preparing for the next wave of PV technology.

With detailed product specifications of the key production tools, the TaiyangNews Solar Cell Production Equipment 2025 Report provides a unique snapshot of where the solar cell production equipment sector stands today and where the industry is headed next.

The TaiyangNews Solar Cell Production Equipment 2025 Report is now available for free download on this link: