The first perovskite and high efficiency tandem photovoltaic modules
(Sustainabilityenvironment.com) – In recent years, perovskite-based solar cells have proven to be a particularly promising energy solution due to their high efficiency and low production costs. But between the performance of cells in the laboratory and those of commercial modules in real environment conditions, there is still a large discrepancy. One of the main problems lies in the scalability of the production process. What works on a small scale, you can’t always replicate on larger surfaces.
Help comes today from research conducted at the Karlsruhe Institute of Technology (KIT), Germany. A group of scientists at the institute developed 100% perovskite, high efficiency and fully scalable tandem photovoltaic modules. This is, as explained by the same KIT in a press release, a unique result worldwide, thanks to a series of interventions on modules and cells.
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In detail, researchers were able to switch from single perovskite cells with an efficiency of 23.5% in an opening area of 0.1 square centimeters to photovoltaic modules with an efficiency of 19.1% in an opening area of 12.25 square centimeters. The opening area is the usable part of the surface that is not covered by electrodes, frames or fasteners. The loss of efficiency during the upscaling process is physiological and in this case 5% less is a relatively low percentage.
The result achieved result is based on three key innovations. KIT researchers have increased efficiency by optimizing the light path and reducing reflections in the cellular architecture. They also implemented an efficient layout for tandem modules using high-performance laser writing that allows the production of functional mini-modules with interconnected two-terminal cell strips. Finally, industrially validated coating processes were used. The results of the research have been published in Nature Energy.