Commercialization

CATL has signed an expanded strategic cooperation agreement with China Energy Conservation and Environmental Protection Group (CECEP), placing perovskite solar technology at the center of their joint roadmap for next‑generation clean energy solutions. The partnership covers next‑generation photovoltaic technologies, sodium‑ion and lithium‑ion energy storage systems, zero‑carbon infrastructure and overseas green mining projects, with a clear emphasis on accelerating the commercialization of emerging low‑carbon technologies including perovskite PV.

A key goal of the agreement is the industrialization and large‑scale manufacturing of perovskite solar products, reflecting the partners’ view that crystalline silicon is nearing its efficiency limits and that perovskite materials offer significantly higher theoretical conversion efficiencies as a promising next‑generation PV platform. CATL will contribute its expertise in advanced energy materials and battery technologies, while CECEP will provide application scenarios, project development capabilities and complementary materials technologies, with the aim of building scalable perovskite PV manufacturing capacity and strengthening their position in future clean‑energy markets.

China’s Ministry of Industry and Information Technology (MIIT), together with four other key government bodies, has announced its 2026 list of typical smart photovoltaic (PV) projects, selecting 73 initiatives nationwide. Among them, two perovskite-based projects were recognized, signaling continued momentum toward large-scale commercialization of next-generation PV technologies.

The selected perovskite projects include GCL Optoelectronics’ “Full-size High Conversion Rate Perovskite Photovoltaic Modules” and Quzhou FiberNano New Energy Technology’s “Manufacturing and Application of Perovskite and Tandem Photovoltaic Systems.” 

Trina Solar has announced its first commercial order for high-efficiency perovskite/crystalline silicon tandem photovoltaic modules from a global high-end distributed PV customer, marking a major milestone in the commercialization of tandem solar technology. The project, deployed in New Zealand, represents the first time Chinese-developed tandem PV products have entered the global premium residential market.

According to the company, this development reflects the completion of Trina Solar’s full innovation cycle - from laboratory research and standardized product development to large-scale global commercialization. The modules supplied are based on Trina Solar’s 900W+ tandem technology platform and are designed as fully standardized industrial products rather than laboratory prototypes. They meet global residential installation standards and are suitable for batch delivery, representing a transition from experimental devices to commercially viable solutions.

An interview with Dr. Bin Fan, Founder and Chairman of GCL Optoelectronic, took place at a recent conference, providing interesting updates and shedding light on GCL’s perovskite commercialization strategy and 4‑terminal tandem roadmap. 

According to the interview, 2026 is set to be GCL’s first year of mass production for perovskite modules, following the installation of a 500 MW production line in 2025 that is now ramping up. GCL expects to start shipping products by the end of Q3 2026, with a first‑year shipment target of about 50-70 MW - still small compared with mainstream silicon, but a meaningful initial commercial volume for perovskite. The company is focusing on “universal” glass‑based modules designed as a common platform that can serve utility‑scale, distributed generation and residential segments, and that can later be transferred to other substrates, including flexible products.

Zhenyao Technology, a China-based global provider of e-paper application solutions, recently launched a 31.5-inch full-color e-paper display advertising screen equipped with perovskite photovoltaic cells by Yanhe Solar. 

The product reportedly achieves completely passive operation for the first time in commercial-grade e-paper display devices, requiring no external power supply or replacement of the built-in battery, and can operate continuously using only ambient light. 

The Gwangju Institute of Science and Technology (GIST) has announced an initiative to commercialize perovskite solar cells, aiming to move the technology beyond laboratory-scale performance and into large-area mass production.

GIST launched its “Strategic Research Group for the World’s First Commercialization of Perovskite Solar Cells,” marking the start of a coordinated effort to industrialize next-generation photovoltaic technology. The initiative is designed to establish a comprehensive research and development framework spanning materials, device engineering, module fabrication, process optimization, and real-world demonstration.

Toyo Seikan Group Holdings, a Japanese packaging and materials company, has reached an agreement with Perovion Technologies (a spin-out company of TNO) and the Netherlands Organization for Applied Scientific Research (“TNO”) to establish a strategic technological and business partnership that aims to create a global market for perovskite flexible photovoltaic panel.

Perovion will be responsible for commercializing the perovskite solar cell manufacturing technology developed by TNO. Toyo Seikan Group Holdings and its technology development partner TNO have been advancing the mass customization of integrated photovoltaic systems in Europe since 2025. These systems are centered on MiraNeo®, the Toyo Seikan Group Holdings brand of functional materials for electronic devices. Through the new three-way partnership, Toyo Seikan Group Holdings will further accelerate its business expansion in the perovskite solar panels field.

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.

Hefei Puskey New Energy Technology has announced that its CVD dry process pilot line has successfully completed its first production run on a 300 mm × 300 mm large-area PET substrate. The company also revealed that the first flexible perovskite solar module produced using a fully CVD dry process has rolled off the line.

The newly produced module is based on Puskey’s proprietary coherent vapor phase (CVD) deposition technology. Unlike conventional solution-based methods, this dry process eliminates the need for organic solvents, offering a cleaner and more controllable manufacturing route. The resulting modules combine several advantages, including high power-to-weight ratio, improved stability, uniformity over large areas, and potentially lower production costs.

TandemPV has announced the opening of its commercial demonstration factory in Fremont, California. The facility marks a step toward commercializing U.S.-manufactured next-generation solar panels for utility-scale projects.

As electricity demand rises, driven in part by data centers and AI workloads, utilities are moving quickly to add new capacity. Tandem PV’s Fremont factory supports efforts to reshore advanced solar manufacturing and reduce reliance on overseas supply chains. The line is designed to demonstrate that perovskite-silicon tandem panels can be manufactured reliably in the United States at scale with high power density, durability, and lower costs.