BIPV

It was reported that China’s UtmoLight showcased its first full perovskite PV module at the recent SNEC PV event in Shanghai, underscoring the technology’s ongoing shift toward commercialization. The Module UL-M12-G1 measures 1,200 mm x 600 mm and is available in four power classes, ranging from 110 W to 130 W.

UtmoLight's President was quoted saying that the first target for the new perovskite modules will be building-integrated PV (BIPV) applications. Unlike crystalline modules, the translucent perovskite panels can be tinted in any color. UtmoLight offers modules strung into a single sheet of glass measuring 2.4 meters by 1.2 meters for building integration.

The Korea Research Institute of Chemical Technology (KRICT) and Korean semiconductor equipment maker UniTest have announced the joint development of a large-area perovskite solar cell with 20.6% efficiency, which they define as a record-breaking achievement.

They reportedly received the world’s highest efficiency certification from Fraunhofer and will be listed on the U.S. National Renewable Energy Laboratory (NREL)’s solar cell efficiency chart.

China-based RenShine Solar has announced that following the completion and commissioning of its 150MW perovskite photovoltaic module project in January, 2024, the Company's 1.2*0.6㎡ commercial size single-junction perovskite was certified by the China Institute of Metrology. The steady-state efficiency of the entire module area reportedly reaches 18.4%.

The production line aims to achieve mass production of 1.2m*0.6m perovskite modules with 20% efficiency by mid-2024. It plans to develop gigawatt-scale production lines to further expand its capacity.

Homerun Resources and Halocell Energy have announced that they executed a non-binding Memorandum of Understanding (MOU) that establishes that the Companies will collaborate to develop and produce high efficiency and stable outdoor Solar Glass / PSC solutions.

Under the terms of the MOU, Halocell and Homerun agree to provide technical assistance to each other to develop the best outdoor Solar Glass / PSC solutions.

Researchers from the Korea Institute of Energy Research (KIER), Korea Research Institute of Standards and Science, Jusung Engineering and the Jülich Research Center have reported an advancement in the stability and efficiency of semi-transparent perovskite solar cells.

The semi-transparent solar cells achieved an impressive efficiency of 21.68%, which is said to be the highest efficiency to date among perovskite solar cells that use transparent electrodes. Additionally, they showed remarkable durability, with over 99% of their initial efficiency maintained after 240 hours of operation.

The Dutch government has drafted a public proposal to support the production of heterojunction and perovskite-silicon tandem modules, as well as building- and vehicle-integrated PV panels, with a maximum allocation of €70 million ($75.1 million) per solar manufacturing project. Rijksdienst voor Ondernemend Nederland (RVO), the state-run agency that manages the SDE++ program for renewable energy in the Netherlands, has publicly proposed the idea of supporting the production of solar panels, storage systems and electrolyzers. The new incentive scheme, “Investeringssubsidie maakindustrie klimaatneutrale economie” (IMKE), will fund a portion of the capital expenditure needed to build factories for the three clean energy technologies.

The RVO said that the incentives for the production of PV panels will be limited to products for building-integrated (BIPV) and vehicle-integrated (VIPV) applications, as well as heterojunction modules or perovskite-silicon tandem panels.

China-based RenShine Solar has announced the completion of its 150MW perovskite PV module project in Changsgu, which started in April 2023. 

The Company said it has switched on the 150 MW perovskite cell production line. The China-based perovskite manufacturer aims to achieve mass-scale production of perovskite panels with a size of 1.2m*0.6m and an efficiency of 20% by mid-2024. It said it will focus on the development of gigawatt-level production lines to further expand its capacity. 

Researchers from the University of Rome Tor Vergata, ENEA and CNR-ISM have used protective buffer layers in perovskite solar cells to mitigate damage during the sputtering of indium tin oxide in the production process. The scientists claim the buffer layers were able to achieve this without damaging the cell’s average visible transmittance.

The cell utilizes buffer layers made of transition metal oxides (TMOs) intended to protect the cell during the sputtering of indium tin oxide (ITO) in the cell production process. The scientists tested, in particular, two different evaporated transition metal oxides (TMOs) – molybdenum oxide (MoO_x) and vanadium oxide (V₂O_x)  and found the former provided the best performance.

Silicon-based solar cells currently dominate the solar market. It is a proven technology, with established manufacturing processes. However, it is also quite expensive to produce, yields rigid cells and has an estimated efficiency limit of around 29%. In recent years, perovskite-based solar technologies have been drawing a lot of attention, and many academics and companies believe they are the future of the solar industry.

Perovskite Solar Cell (PSC) technology is a photovoltaic (PV) technology based on the use of perovskite materials, mostly in the light-absorbing layers of the cell. There are many types of perovskite materials, and several processes used to deposit these materials to create efficient solar panels. PSCs have potential for creating solar panels that are easily deposited onto most surfaces, including flexible and textured ones. They can also be lightweight, cheap to produce, and more efficient than silicon-based solar cells (efficiencies in the lab have already crossed 30%). 

The major advantages of perovskite-based solar cells are factors of performance, applicability and sustainability:

Researchers from The University of Sydney, University of New South Wales, Macquarie University and University of Technology Sydney have demonstrated efficient perovskite solar cells (PSCs) on steel substrates.

The team explained that steel, being flexible and conductive, can itself can act as both a substrate and an electrode for either large-area-monolithic-panel or smaller-area-singular single-junction or multi-junction cell fabrication. The reported cells could be used for building-integrated PV (BIPV), vehicle-integrated solar (VIPV), or other design-integrated photovoltaics for terrestrial or space applications.