US Solar Makers Near Breakthrough in Panel Efficiency to Close China Gap

US solar manufacturers claim they are close to commercializing a next-generation, higher-efficiency solar panel that could narrow the technology gap with China. The claim is unverified and likely refers to tandem or perovskite-silicon cells, but if realized, it would shift competitive dynamics in the solar supply chain. The development signals a potential inflection point in US-China clean-tech rivalry, though scale-up and cost remain uncertain.