Videos

Video: A turning point for solar efficiency? AIKO’s 500W module explained

Published by

IKO’s ABC Gen 3 Infinite Series marks a turning point for high-efficiency solar in Australia. In this interview, Renew Economy speaks with Thomas Bywater, Head of AIKO ANZ, about the world’s first 500 W module under 2 m² and how AIKO has solved the Back Contact scalability problem that held the architecture back for nearly five decades.

Back Contact (BC) technology has been recognised as one of the most advanced solar cell architectures since the 1970s, but was historically limited to niche, high-end products due to manufacturing complexity and cost. AIKO has changed that. Through deep R&D and patented process innovation, AIKO has made BC mass-producible at gigawatt scale, paving the way for BC/xBC to become the industry’s mainstream pathway for efficiency gains this decade.

Share
Published by

Recent Posts

“Forging the Future”? Why the coal industry may soon have to face some facts it can’t dodge

A new report finds that monitoring of methane emissions can be significantly improved, particularly for…

25 September 2026

Germany presents fossil fuel transition plan, reaffirms 2045 climate target

Germany's cabinet approves roadmap to phase out oil, coal and gas across energy, industry, buildings and…

25 September 2026

“Uncharted territory:” Fears as weather whiplash sparks tree die-off and dials up bushfire risk

Eastern Australia is not yet in the grip of a terrible 2019-20-like drought but early…

25 September 2026

Australia’s most pro-coal state is still a hot spot for wind and solar, even after ripping up renewables target

Queensland has ripped up its renewables target and cancelled projects, but it remains a hot…

25 September 2026

Energy Insiders: The off-grid mines leading the charge towards 100 pct renewables

Zenith Energy's Michael Buzzard on the remarkable energy transitions achieved in off-grid mines, and plans…

25 September 2026

Network bets its own money on filling commercial roofs with solar and storing it in community batteries

Network's revamped community power trial aims to turn surplus commercial solar into lower bills for…

25 September 2026