Researchers at Solliance, in collaboration with MiaSole Hi-Tech Corp., have designed a flexible solar cell with an impressive power conversion efficiency of 21.5%. The solar cell combines two thin-film solar cell technologies into a 4 terminal tandem solar cell stack: a top flexible semi-transparent perovskite solar cell with a bottom flexible copper indium gallium selenide (CIGS) cell.
A tandem solar cell, which combines a perovskite and a Cu(In,Ga)Se2 (CIGS) cell, has the potential for high conversion efficiency exceeding single junction solar cell performance thanks to tunable and complementary bandgaps of these individual thin film solar cells. CIGS technology has a proven track record as a high efficiency and stable solar technology, and has entered high volume manufacturing in multi-GW scale around the world. CIGS technology has been successfully used to produce high efficiency flexible and lightweight cells and modules, which address markets where heavy and rigid panels cannot be used. Perovskite solar cells, promise low cost solar technology based on abundant materials. Combining both technologies in a flexible and lightweight package expands the horizon of high performance, flexible, and customizable solar technology.
The CIGS bottom cell was developed by MiaSolé Hi-Tech, a provider of CIGS production turn-key factories and manufacturer of CIGS flexible solar panels, located in the U.S. The CIGS cell is based on a commercially available high efficiency flexible solar cell technology fabricated on lightweight stainless-steel foil using a proprietary high throughput roll-to-cell sputtering process. Properties of the bottom cell were optimized to match the top cell light transmittance spectrum to achieve high tandem cell performance.
This combination of technologies yielded a record efficiency from the flexible perovskite/CIGS tandem cell. 'Optimizing the bandgap of both cells was an important step in achieving this result', according to Mehrdad Najafi, Researcher at Solliance Solar Research, 'These results are very promising for further development of high efficiency flexible solar modules'.
Program Manager of the Solliance Module Technology Program Hans Linden states: 'This tandem development is a perfect example of the added value of working closely together on seemingly different technologies. Building a strong relationship and establishing trust between Solliance and MiaSolé enabled high level of cooperation, and made this progress possible. Next step is to further increase efficiency and, more importantly, to scale this technology to commercial-size cells and modules.'
'As single junction efficiencies get closer to the theoretical limits, improving module performance while continuously reducing $/W costs becomes more difficult', adds Director of Technology at MiaSole Hi-Tech Dmitry Poplavskyy, 'We believe that combining our core CIGS technology with a low-cost perovskite technology in a tandem architecture will allow us to achieve high module efficiencies while maintaining low $/W costs'.
