India–Australia Research Push: RAYZON Solar and UNSW Launch Joint Study to Combat UV-Induced Degradation in TOPCon Cells

RAYZON Solar and the University of New South Wales (UNSW), Australia, have jointly launched a research initiative to investigate ultraviolet (UV)-induced degradation in TOPCon solar cells and develop engineering solutions to improve long-term module reliability.

The programme is part of the Technology Commercialisation Challenge (TCC), a key component of the India–Australia Renewable Energy Partnership supported by both governments to strengthen clean-energy supply chains through collaborative R&D and technology transfer.

As part of the project’s first phase, UNSW researchers — including Prof. Bram Hoex, Dr. Michael Nielsen and Dr. Mark Sterbic — recently visited RAYZON Solar’s manufacturing and R&D facilities for technical reviews, knowledge exchange and planning of the research timelines.

Amit Barve, CEO of RAYZON Solar, said the collaboration demonstrates how bilateral cooperation can accelerate technology adoption and reinforce India’s clean-energy ambitions under the TCC framework.

Growing Concern Over UV-Induced Degradation

The initiative follows recent UNSW studies revealing significant UV-related degradation in TOPCon (Tunnel Oxide Passivated Contact) solar cells when exposed to high levels of UV radiation, particularly UV-B. Findings published earlier this year showed that UV exposure can break silicon–hydrogen bonds in the cell’s passivation layer, increasing surface recombination and reducing open-circuit voltage — ultimately lowering overall efficiency.

Although TOPCon technology is known for high efficiency and reduced light-induced degradation compared to PERC, the emerging challenge of UV-induced degradation (UVID) has raised reliability concerns for deployments in high-irradiance regions such as India.

Research indicates that the rear side of TOPCon cells is largely UV-resistant due to its doped polysilicon layer, while the front surface remains vulnerable. The issue becomes more pronounced when UV-transparent encapsulants are used, allowing higher-energy photons to penetrate the cell structure.

Scope of the Joint R&D Programme

The collaboration will focus on:

• Lab-level and production-line testing of TOPCon cells under controlled UV exposure conditions that reflect India’s high-UV climate.
• Development of mitigation strategies, including potential redesign of passivation layers, encapsulant choices and UV-filtering coatings to reduce UVID without compromising efficiency.
• Validation against global reliability benchmarks to provide greater confidence for developers and financiers deploying TOPCon modules in harsh, high-irradiance environments.

Impact on India’s Solar Market

Industry analysts note that this research could have significant implications for India’s solar manufacturing ecosystem. With solar plants across the country facing intense UV radiation, the findings may influence future procurement standards, module design parameters and warranty frameworks.

If successful, the collaboration could pave the way for “India-optimized” TOPCon modules engineered for climate resilience — positioning RAYZON Solar as a key differentiator in the high-efficiency module segment.

As global demand for advanced cell technologies increases, the ability to demonstrate long-term reliability under real-world conditions is expected to become a decisive factor for module selection and investor confidence.