The Taiwan government-sponsored Industrial Technology Research Institute (ITRI) has successfully developed a metal wrap through (MWT) technology that increases the conversion efficiency of crystalline silicon solar cells by 0.3-0.4% and reduces the loss of efficiency incurred in assembling solar cells into modules to 1%, down from the common level of 2%, according to ITRI. A local solar cell maker is willing to license the technology, ITRI pointed out but did not name the company.

ITRI is currently in the process of patent application. Holland's ECN and Germany's Fraunhofer ISE are also developing similar technologies.

When MWT technology is successfully incorporated in volume production, it will allow Taiwan-based solar cell makers to rely less on turnkey equipment from international suppliers.