Full-sized tandem perovskite PV panel has record 25% efficiency
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European researchers have developed a large tandem perovskite photovoltaic panel with a record efficiency of 25%.
Fraunhofer Institute for Solar Energy Systems worked with Oxford PV on the 421W perovskite tandem panel to deliver the record efficiency of 25%.
Tandem solar cells have a theoretical maximum efficiency of over 43%, compared to less than 30% for silicon solar cells as they capture energy at certain frequencies in the silicon substrate and at other frequencies in the perovskite layer on top.
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Moving up from smaller tandem cells, the panel has an area of 1.68 m2 and used equipment at Fraunhofer ISE’s Module-TEC that is already used in mass production and optimized the processes for the tandem technology. Last May, a two terminal 258.15 cm2 solar cell saw an efficiency of 28.6% as independently certified by Fraunhofer ISE.
“This makes it more efficient than any silicon PV module ever built in industrial format,” says Prof. Dr. Stefan Glunz, Head of Photovoltaics at Fraunhofer ISE. “The fact that mass production-compatible technology was used for its manufacture demonstrates the enormous potential of tandem technology for the PV industry.”
“Our record-breaking solar panels demonstrate that we are on the cusp of the next solar revolution, which will be delivered, in part, by our tandem cell technology,” said Chris Case, Chief Technology Officer at Oxford PV
As the perovskite layer of the tandem cells is temperature-sensitive, the research team developed low-temperature processes for the interconnection and encapsulation of the solar cells that are also particularly gentle on the cells mechanically.
“These are suitable for industrial mass production and can be implemented on commercial systems. The necessary adaptions can also easily be implemented in today’s PV production lines,” explains Dr. Achim Kraft, Group Leader for Interconnection Technology at Fraunhofer ISE. The solar cells were interconnected using conductive bonding “This type of interconnection is used on an industrial scale at Fraunhofer ISE’s Module-TEC. In future we will also be testing another alternative: soldering the solar cells at low temperatures,” says Dr. Achim Kraft.
For the calibration measurements, CalLab PV Modules used a new multispectral solar simulator to determine the module efficiency. In order to make precise and reproducible statements about the tandem module’s power, both the perovskite and the silicon cell layers must be illuminated by different LED light sources under conditions that are as close as possible to those in which they produce electricity under natural sunlight. The efficiency was calculated using the designated area (da) of 1.68 square meters. As the currently standardized measurement methods are not fully transferable to this new technology, the method used was additionally validated with field measurements.
The project teams from Fraunhofer ISE and Oxford PV are now working towards certification of the PV module. To this end, intensive tests on long-term stability are already underway in the climate chambers of the TestLab PV Module at Fraunhofer ISE.
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2024 is set to be a pivotal year for Oxford PV, as the company scales-up manufacturing and continues to progress plans for a new factory to produce its tandem solar cells in high volumes.
“It is the first step in what will be a transformative 2024, as we begin to deliver market-ready panels from our factory in Germany and continue our global search for a new high volume manufacturing site which will enable us to bring our technology into the mainstream,” said David Ward, Chief Executive Officer at Oxford PV.
www.oxfordpv.com; www.ise.fraunhofer.de
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