Spirit attended Solar and Storage Convention in Birmingham recently, several notable developments in the UK solar market were highlighted. One of the most exciting of these was the introduction of a new flagship residential solar module from AIKO.

AIKO has made a significant impact on the UK panel market this year with the NeoStar 2, which quickly became very popular with our customers as a solar panel that offers excellent value for its price. The NeoStar 2 is an all-black 455 W solar panel with an efficiency of 22.8% at approximately £70 per unit. The top panel in this range is a 470 W module, which is not all-black but offers an increased efficiency of 23.5%. In just two to three years, this product has enabled AIKO to capture an enormous 10% market share in the UK solar market.

AIKO NeoStar 3

Currently, AIKO is showcasing its latest product line, the NeoStar 3 range. The top model in this series is a 485 W panel boasting an impressive 24.3% efficiency. While this particular panel is not all-black, discussions with the DCO technician reveal that the top-spec all-black variant is likely to be a 475 W unit with around 24% efficiency.

Solar panel efficiency is measured for the entire module, not just individual cells. Standard testing for solar panel performance involves exposing the panel to 1,000 watts of light per square meter and then measuring the electrical output. Any non-functional space on the panel that does not generate electricity will lower the overall efficiency of the module.

What's new in the AIKO NeoStar 3?

The NeoStar 3’s efficiency improvements aren’t primarily down to groundbreaking advancements in cell technology, though seemingly some progress has been made here. Instead, the improvements stem from optimizing design inefficiencies present in the NeoStar 2, and other competing panels. Interestingly, the NeoStar 3 eliminates three areas of redundant space by moving the string collectors to the back of the panel. This relocation allows the cells to be placed closer together on the front of the panel, resulting in increased efficiency and a sleeker overall design.

The NeoStar 3 continues to use three bypass diodes, similar to its predecessor, to maintain performance and reliability.

The NeoStar 3 maintains nearly the same dimensions as its predecessor, with the only difference being an increase in height of approximately 5 mm. Otherwise, it seems to retain the same size while remaining smaller than the flagship models from competitors such as J Solar, Trina Solar, and Longi.

When will the AIKO NeoStar 3 release?

The NeoStar 3 panels are expected to be available in late Q1 of 2025. However, whether to wait for their release depends on individual circumstances. The solar industry is rapidly evolving, and, at some point, it becomes necessary to invest rather than wait for incremental improvements. Similar to the continuous cycle of new smartphone releases, advancements in solar technology occur regularly, though not at the rapid pace of Moore's Law for chip transistors and semi-conductors. Delaying the installation of a solar system means missing out on potential savings and the opportunity for tax-free profits from solar energy. While capital gains tax applies to other investments, solar returns are exempt, making it less crucial to wait for the latest technology.

Closing words

According to an AIKO representative at the convention, the company's chairman has the aim of getting every last bit of power out of silicon, which could reach up to 30% efficiency. This forward momentum is mirrored across the industry, as the Solar and Storage Live event this year was twice the size of previous years, with the number of stands doubling. It is an exciting time for the industry, and AIKO’s pursuit of a silicon-based panel with 30% efficiency is a development worth monitoring.