The next generation of technological change! European-made plus-size perovskite-silicon tandem cells

Europe will benefit from a new research and innovation (R&I) project aimed at advancing the manufacture and capacity of tandem solar photovoltaic cells on the continent, with a focus on perovskite-silicon tandem cells.

The project, called "PEPPERONI", will last for four years and is co-funded by the European Union under the "European Horizon" program (R&I's long-term funding scheme) and the Swiss Secretariat for Education, Research and Innovation.

The PEPPERONI project was launched on November 1 under the coordination of the climate research institute Helmholtz-Zentrum Berlin (HZB) and the international solar manufacturer Qcells.

Project aims to help push silicon-perovskite technology toward mass manufacturing

Qcells said it will build a tandem cell production test line at its European headquarters in Thalheim, Germany, with the ultimate goal of realizing the industrial production of perovskite-silicon tandem cells. The total investment will be around €14.5 million (US$15 million) over the project's four-year lifespan.

Qcells also said that PEPPERONI aims to accelerate the achievement of Europe's 2050 net-zero target. The boost in power conversion efficiency that tandem cells can provide exceeds what is practically possible with pure silicon cells, allowing long-term reductions in the levelized cost of electricity and enabling short-term development in areas with limited space, such as rooftops.

Fabian Fertig, Director of Global Silicon and Cell R&D at Qcells, said: "Together with global technology partners, Qcells is proud to be part of the PEPPERONI Alliance.

This research is expected to lead to new breakthroughs in advancing perovskite-silicon tandem solar cell and module technology. With the current energy system under unprecedented pressure, this is an exciting first step towards the industrialized manufacturing of next-generation photovoltaic technologies in Europe. "

The partners at PEPPERONI believe that well-established industry expertise and the falling cost of silicon PV production are the basis for scaling up the production targets for tandem cells. The goal of the PEPPERONI project is to expand the useful area of perovskite-silicon tandem cells from the current record device of 1 cm2 to an industrial size.

In July this year, the Federal Institute of Technology in Lausanne (EPFL) and the Swiss Center for Electronics and Microtechnology (CSEM) jointly set a new world record for perovskite-silicon tandem photovoltaic cells, reaching 31.3%.

Last month, Dutch researchers also announced the unveiling of a perovskite-silicon tandem cell with an efficiency of 30%.

Bernd Stannowski, Head of Industrial Compatible Processes, Solar Cells and Modules at the HZB Group, added: "At HZB we have developed a world-record level of efficiency for lab-scale stacking technology. Working with industry partners to scale this very promising new technology."

Perovskite tandem cells have yet to be mass-produced. Recently, Voltec Solar and IPVF, a French research institution, jointly proposed a plan to build a 5GW perovskite/silicon "super factory" by 2030. They did not identify a method to achieve this scale.