Fraunhofer ISE has inaugurated a new research and development laboratory aimed at accelerating the industrial adoption of perovskite-silicon tandem solar cells. The facility, named “Pero-Si-SCALE,” is designed as an open, industry-accessible platform to help bridge the gap between laboratory-scale innovation and large-scale manufacturing.
Image credit: Fraunhofer ISE
The Pero-Si-SCALE facility focuses on transferring early-stage innovations (Technology Readiness Levels 1-4) into industry-relevant processes and formats. It enables scaling of tandem cell designs to large wafer sizes - up to 210 x 210 mm - using high-throughput, industry-standard manufacturing techniques. In addition to process development, the lab offers comprehensive characterization and analysis capabilities, as well as support for integrating tandem cells into full photovoltaic modules.
The new infrastructure builds on more than two decades of experience from Fraunhofer ISE’s Photovoltaic Technology Evaluation Center (PV-TEC), which has long specialized in industry-oriented silicon PV development. PV-TEC will play a key role in supplying optimized silicon bottom cells and ensuring alignment with current production technologies, facilitating smoother technology transfer to manufacturers.
Fraunhofer ISE is pursuing a “hybrid route” for tandem cell fabrication, combining vacuum-based and wet chemical deposition processes. This approach has already demonstrated laboratory efficiencies exceeding 33%. A key advantage of the hybrid method is its compatibility with standard textured silicon solar cells currently used in the industry, enabling direct integration into existing production lines and improving overall energy yield.
However, challenges remain in scaling the technology. Efficiently combining diverse thin-film deposition techniques with wafer-based silicon processing is a central hurdle for industrial implementation. The Pero-Si-SCALE facility aims to address these challenges by providing a collaborative environment where equipment suppliers, material developers, and PV manufacturers can jointly refine processes and accelerate commercialization.
At the launch, Prof. Dr. Stefan Glunz, Head of the Photovoltaics Division at Fraunhofer ISE, emphasized that photovoltaics still holds significant untapped potential. He noted that tandem solar cells represent a key opportunity to further boost efficiency and reduce the cost per watt, reinforcing their importance in the future energy landscape.
With Pero-Si-SCALE, Fraunhofer ISE positions itself - and its industry partners - at the forefront of the transition from high-efficiency tandem concepts to scalable, market-ready photovoltaic solutions.
