Qcells, a subsidiary of the South Korean conglomerate Hanwha Corp, has set a new world efficiency record for commercial solar cells, reaching 28.6% with its tandem perovskite-silicon technology. This achievement promises to reduce costs, space requirements and resources consumed in large solar projects.
The record that redefines industry standards
South Korean company Qcells has announced that its commercial M10 solar cell, based on tandem perovskite-silicon tandem technology, has achieved an efficiency of 28.6%. This represents a significant jump from the 21% average of traditional silicon solar panels. “With this technology, a solar project requiring 100 panels could achieve the same efficiency with just 60 or 80 panels,” explained Danielle Merfeld, chief technology officer at Qcells. This breakthrough has major implications for the solar industry, enabling more compact and efficient projects.
Why perovskite is the future of solar energy
Perovskites are innovative materials that can absorb multiple wavelengths of sunlight, overcoming the limitations of traditional silicon solar cells. Thanks to this capability, the theoretical efficiency of perovskite-based solar cells can exceed 30%.
Key advantages of the perovskite:
- Lower costs: perovskite materials are cheaper and easier to produce than silicon.
- Versatility: Can be integrated into flexible and lightweight panels, extending their applicability in various fields.
- Ecological impact: Reduced consumption of materials and resources needed for production.
Economic and environmental implications
The tandem perovskite-silicon technology not only promises a significant increase in efficiency, but also helps reduce the costs associated with large solar projects. A preliminary report indicates that the use of this technology could reduce total costs of solar systems by 15-20%. In addition, reducing the number of panels needed to obtain the same amount of energy could solve the problems of extensive land use, a major challenge for large-scale deployment of solar farms.
Challenges and future of tandem technology
Despite its impressive performance, perovskite-silicon technology faces challenges related to the long-term stability of perovskite materials and their integration into industrial production processes. “While these cells have shown enormous potential, durability testing and production scalability remain critical,” says one industry analyst. However, R&D investment continues to accelerate, with companies such as Qcells leading global efforts to overcome these hurdles.
A key step towards energy transition
Qcells’ progress demonstrates that technological innovations can significantly accelerate the transition to renewable energy sources. Perovskite-silicon tandem cells offer huge potential to revolutionize the solar industry, making clean energy more affordable and sustainable for all.