A new efficiency world record for converting sunlight into electricity has been set by researchers at Longi, the world’s largest solar panel manufacturer. They achieved a 34.6 per cent power conversion efficiency using a tandem perovskite-silicon solar cell, surpassing the previous record by 0.7 per cent. This breakthrough is seen as a significant advancement for renewable energy.
Perovskite is considered a ‘miracle material’ due to its potential to improve various technologies, including batteries, telecommunications, and renewable energy. As current silicon solar panels reach their physical limits, researchers are turning to next-generation tandem cells like perovskite-silicon cells to better harness the Sun’s energy. These cells have a theoretical efficiency limit of 43 per cent, much higher than the 29 per cent limit of standard silicon cells.
The latest record set by Longi follows a series of breakthroughs over the past three years, with the company breaking the world record for solar cell efficiency 16 times. The achievement was announced at the 17th International Solar Photovoltaic and Smart Energy Conference (SNEC) in Shanghai, China, where Longi also revealed a new partnership with Saudi energy firm ACWA Power to transform global energy.
Longi credited the new efficiency record to optimizing the thin film deposition process of the electron transport layer, using high-efficiency defect passivation materials, and designing high-quality interfacial passivation structures. While specific details were not provided, Longi is one of several companies working to commercialize this technology.
In the UK, Oxford PV is preparing to fulfill the first customer orders of its perovskite-based solar cells this year. The company has established a production facility in Germany in hopes of expanding the use of this innovative technology on a global scale.