Tandem - Page 6

A consortium entitled "Scalable High-power Output and Low-Cost MAde-to-measure Tandem Solar Modules Enabling Specialized PV Applications" (SOLMATES) was selected for a Horizon Europe project. 

The consortium consists of 3 RTOs including the HZB (Helmholtz Center in Berlin for Materials and Energy), Korea Institute of Energy Research (KIER) and TNO (Netherlands Organization for Applied Scientific Research), 5 universities including the Universität Innsbruck (project coordinator) and 6 SMEs. The SOLMATES initiative launched in December 2023 held an initial "kick-off" strategic research meeting on January 17-18, 2024, in Innsbruck, Austria.

Researchers at Seoul National University and Korea Advanced Institute of Science and Technology (KAIST) have developed highly efficient tandem perovskite light-emitting diodes (PeLEDs). This advancement may expedite the commercialization of perovskite light-emitting materials in next-generation display technologies.

The Ministry of Science and ICT (MSIT) announced that the team, led by Professor Lee Tae-woo from Seoul National University’s College of Engineering, has successfully created a high-efficiency and long-life hybrid tandem light-emitting device. This device combines metal halide perovskites with organic light-emitting diodes.

TandemPV has raised $6 million, bringing its total to $27 million in venture capital and government support. The Company will use the funds to advance research and development and plans to build its first manufacturing facility.

The funding round was led by existing investor Planetary Technologies, an early-stage venture capital firm with deep expertise in climate tech. Other institutional investors participated, including new investor Uncorrelated Ventures, as well as executives from a variety of corporate sectors and such solar industry leaders as Tom Werner, former chairman, president and CEO of SunPower Corp.

Researchers from the Daegu-Gyeongbuk Institute of Science and Technology (DGIST) in South Korea have developed silver-alloyed CIGS solar cells (ACIGS) that can be beneficial for applications in perovskite-CIGS tandem PV devices. 

The silver-alloyed photovoltaic cell based on copper, indium, gallium and selenium (CIGS) thin-film technology and can reach a remarkable power conversion efficiency of 17.7% without applying post-deposition treatments or anti-reflection coatings. 

Researchers from Japan's University of Electro-Communication and CAR MATE MFG. CO. have developed a lead-free tin sulfide solar cell that is intended for applications in tandem perovskite-silicon PV devices. 

Using a new passivation technique based on the use of phenylsilane (PhSiH₃) as a reducing agent, the scientists were able to considerably increase the cell's efficiency compared to a reference device with no PhSiH₃ treatment.

Chinese energy company Akcome has announced an investment of approximately 1 billion RMB (~USD 140 million) to establish a research and production base for heterojunction-perovskite tandem solar cells.

The initiative will be led by Akcome’s wholly-owned subsidiary, Zhejiang Akcome Future Technology Co., Ltd., in collaboration with the Hangzhou Qianjiang Economic Development Zone Management Committee.

Researchers at Germany's Forschungszentrum Jülich have reported a method to fabricate >1-micrometer thick perovskite films by employing hole-transporting bilayers of self-assembled monolayers (SAMs) and poly[bis(4-phenyl) (2,4,6-trimethylphenyl)amine] (PTAA). Recognizing the critical role transport layers play in exacerbating thickness-dependent losses, the team optimized a dual-layer hole transport architecture to reduce resistive losses and recombination. The authors achieved remarkable efficiency retention at over 1 micron thickness.

This work focuses on a solar cell architecture that decouples thickness from efficiency limitations. By sandwiching specialty organic films around the perovskite layer, the authors enabled micron-scale thicknesses without forfeiting peak performance. Their design notably achieves a remarkable 20.2% efficiency at over 1 micron thickness with minimal losses compared to thinner versions.

The CEA at INES, ENEL Green Power and its Sicilian affiliate 3SUN have announced a new record for a PIN architecture two-terminal perovskite-silicon tandem cell with a conversion efficiency of 28.4% on 9 cm² with shading correction.

In 2023, the CEA and 3SUN have previously announced 26.5% in March, and 27.1% in June for the same type of PIN architecture tandem cell on 9cm² with shading correction. The year closes on a high note for the team, with this cell, certified by the European Commission JRC-ESTI at a conversion efficiency 24.4% equivalent to 28.4% with shading correction. Like the previous performance record, the device has an active surface area of ~ 9 cm² and a Voc of over 1900 mV.

Hanwha Qcells recently announced it will be closing its 3.5GW module factory in South Korea, in response to the stagnant solar market in the country. It was reported that the total installed capacity of solar power in South Korea has been continuously decreasing over the past three years, from 4.7GW in 2020 to 3.4GW in 2022, and is expected to further decrease in 2023.

Closing the factory comes as part of a plan to optimize Hanwha's photovoltaic module production capacity. However, Hanwha stated that it will continue to invest in its factory in Jincheon, South Korea, which will continue to produce TOPCon products and operate a perovskite tandem cell pilot line.

Researchers at South Korea’s Chonnam National University have reported perovskite-organic hybrid tandem solar cells with 23.07% efficiency processed entirely in open air, bringing the technology a step closer to economic viability.

Schematic illustration of the synthesis of all-inorganic perovskite thin films by dynamic hot-air-assisted method. Image from Energy & Environmental Science 

Researchers have largely relied on meticulously engineering the perovskite crystal structure itself for greater resilience. But these delicate handling steps add cost and complexity not suitable for mass production. The team explained that the focus has recently shifted toward all-solution processed solar cells due to their low energy consumption fabrication processes. The team’s innovation, a dynamic hot air deposition technique, simplified the production process by eliminating the need for humidity-controlled environments.