Hanwha Solutions’ Qcells division (Hanwha Qcells) has announced it will serve as the lead institution in a new South Korean government research and development project focused on commercial‑area perovskite/crystalline silicon tandem solar modules.
The three‑year project, which began in April 2026, is part of the national Energy Technology Development Program overseen by the Ministry of Climate, Energy and Environment and the Korea Energy Technology Evaluation and Planning (KETEP). Under the R&D agreement titled “Technology development and demonstration of commercial‑area perovskite/crystalline silicon tandem modules,” Qcells will head a consortium of nine organizations, including domestic companies, research institutes and universities.
The consortium’s main technical goal is to demonstrate commercial‑area tandem modules with:
- Module efficiency of at least 28%
- Module area of at least 1.7 m²
Beyond achieving these performance targets, the project is designed to validate outdoor reliability, economic feasibility and readiness for mass production. Qcells will concentrate on developing tandem manufacturing processes that can be scaled to high‑volume production, while conducting field demonstrations and business feasibility analyses with domestic research partners. The company aims to secure manufacturing technology that combines high performance, reliability and cost‑effectiveness in time for mass‑market deployment, with a commercialization target around 2029.
Qcells plans to link its existing perovskite‑tandem pilot lines in South Korea and Germany with the new government‑backed program, building up demonstration data and gradually establishing the technological foundation for a transition to mass production. The company also intends to strengthen collaboration with domestic materials, components and equipment suppliers, positioning the project as a cornerstone for a broader next‑generation solar industry ecosystem in Korea.
Moon Su‑jin, head of Qcells’ Pangyo R&D Center, described the project as a pivotal step toward full commercial validation of tandem solar cells. She emphasized that Qcells will leverage its accumulated cell and module know‑how and mass‑production experience to accelerate the commercialization timeline for tandem technology and bolster the global competitiveness of Korea’s solar industry.
