Scientists have succeeded in developing a perovskite panel with record efficiency
Scientists from Oxford University and the German Fraunhofer Institute for Solar Energy Research have set a new world record for the efficiency of perovskite photovoltaic panels. The new tandem technology boasts an impressive efficiency of 25%, which is one percentage point higher than the efficiency of the best commercially available models.
Source: Fraunhofer ISE
New world record
A major breakthrough has been achieved in the development of a tandem solar panel using perovskite. With further refinement, the resulting efficiency of the panel could be more than double that of current technologies.
British scientists from Oxford PV, based at Oxford University, are participating in the successful project. Oxford PV is known for its pioneering work in the field of tandem silicon-perovskite solar cell technology. To achieve this goal, it collaborated with the German Fraunhofer Institute for Solar Energy Systems.
“This new world record is a major milestone for Oxford PV, proving that our tandem solar cells can achieve record performance when assembled into solar panels,” said CEO David Ward.
The tandem solar panel achieves an output of up to 421 watts on an area of 1.68 square meters. “Our record-breaking solar panels prove that we are on the cusp of another revolution, which will be brought about in part by our tandem cell technology,” said Chris Case, Chief Technology Officer at Oxford PV.
The increase in the efficiency of photovoltaic panels is evidence of the continuing progress in photovoltaic technologies. The effort to increase the conversion rates of solar panels is based on the fundamental goal of maximizing the efficiency of converting sunlight into electrical energy.
Commonly available silicon photovoltaic panels today operate at efficiencies between 16 and 24 percent. Thanks to new tandem technology using perovskite, scientists have managed to increase the efficiency of the panels to 25%. Theoretical performance values can reach up to 43%. Even under ideal conditions, today’s technologies are not capable of operating at efficiencies higher than 30%.
In-house production
Oxford PV owns a production line near Berlin. Thanks to a partnership with the Fraunhofer Institute for Solar Energy Research, which has an advanced solar simulator, it is possible to verify research findings quickly and easily.
Perovskite silicon solar cells manufactured by Oxford PV achieved an efficiency of 26.8% in M6 format, and were produced in small series at the Brandenburg factory. Tandem cells, combining silicon and perovskite, are sensitive to temperature due to the perovskite layer. Therefore, low-temperature processes that are gentle on the cells and suitable for industrial mass production were used to connect and encapsulate them.
Oxford PV has already announced that it has received approval for commercial production of this type of panel. The year 2024 will be crucial for Oxford PV as the company expands production and continues with plans to build a new factory for the large-scale production of tandem solar cells.
“In 2024, we will begin shipping panels from our factory in Germany and continue our search for a new manufacturing facility for mass production, which will enable us to bring our technology into regular operation,” Ward said.
With a theoretical efficiency potential of more than 43%, tandem silicon-perovskite cells represent a major leap forward compared to conventional silicon solar cells, whose efficiency does not exceed 30%.
