Module standardisation has been one of the key steps enabling the acceleration of technological evolution in the photovoltaic (PV) industry, by avoiding the proliferation of multiple panel sizes that complicate project development.
“Two years ago, we also led the standardisation of module sizes to avoid making life difficult for EPC contractors and tracker manufacturers. We sat down with ten direct competitors to standardise dimensions and agree to compete only on technology,” said Miguel Covarrubias, sales director LATAM at Jinko Solar, during the Future Energy Summit Argentina 2026.
Following that process, competition among manufacturers began to focus primarily on technological innovation and module efficiency.
“Today, the competition is centred on technology — and that is a challenge we are happy to take on, now with TOPCon 3.0,” the executive stated during the panel “Competitiveness, development and technological innovation in photovoltaic projects.”
In parallel, the company made a technological decision that would shape the direction of its product development: moving away from mono PERC architecture to invest in TOPCon, despite not all manufacturers sharing this vision of the future of photovoltaics.
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“Two and a half to three years ago, we committed to the shift from mono PERC to TOPCon because we believed mono PERC efficiency had reached its limit. At that time, many competitors said this was not the right path, but today all manufacturers are working with TOPCon,” Covarrubias noted.
“It was a bet — one we won —, and that is why we are now slightly ahead of the competition. TOPCon cell technology is here to stay,” he added.
The evolution of this technology has made it possible to increase module power output without modifying panel size, improving the efficiency of utility-scale solar projects. As a result, the company moved from its TigerNEO 1.0 version at 620 Wp to the 2.0 version at 630–635 Wp, reaching 670 Wp with the latest 3.0 version within the same footprint.
The module achieves cell efficiencies of between 26.7% and 27%, with module efficiencies ranging from 24.3% to 24.8%, bifaciality of 85%, and an annual linear degradation rate of just 0.35%, enabling longer system lifetimes and improved return on investment.
The product also demonstrates better performance under low-irradiance conditions, capable of generating up to 2.49% more energy during early morning and late afternoon hours.
Covarrubias uses an analogy to explain the impact of these technological improvements on solar projects: “I like to compare it to Formula 1 — we are gaining half a second per lap in a 50-lap race.”
Technological innovation, market dynamics and regional expansion
The development of new modules is also fuelled by feedback from the solar ecosystem, particularly EPC contractors and developers involved in large-scale projects, allowing operational needs to be incorporated directly into design and manufacturing processes.
“We know not everything will be simple or feasible to implement, but feedback is essential. In many cases, it is local and highly customised by country, and that ultimately makes a difference throughout the entire process,” said the LATAM Sales Director at Jinko Solar.
At the same time, the company’s regional strategy is supported by a strong presence in Latin America, where it has chosen to differentiate itself through service. As a result, it currently holds around 30% market share in the region and close to 40% in Argentina.
Looking ahead, the company aims to maintain or increase its recent volumes and market share, while also seeking local players in Latin America capable of strengthening regional capabilities and retaining project development within the region.
“At Jinko Solar, we continuously compete internally with what we call ‘cross-regional’ models — companies executing projects in Latin America from other continents. Our wish is for Argentina to recognise its potential and seize opportunities across Latin America, optimising processes in Chile, Peru, Ecuador and Colombia,” Covarrubias stated.
“In other words, to use Argentina as a platform for service-driven growth and to further scale up the regional offering,” he concluded during his participation at the event.
