Perovskite Solar

China's Three Gorges Group has announced that "the world's first commercial megawatt-level perovskite ground-mounted photovoltaic project was successfully connected to the grid on November 29".

The project is located in the Kubuqi Desert hinterland of Hangjin Banner, Ordos City, Inner Mongolia, and is supported by the Kubuqi 2 million kilowatt photovoltaic desert control project in the west of Inner Mongolia. The project has an installed capacity of 1 megawatt, covers an area of 40 acres, and utilizes a total of 11,200 modules of perovskite photovoltaic modules, as was reported.

Hanwha Qcells recently announced it will be closing its 3.5GW module factory in South Korea, in response to the stagnant solar market in the country. It was reported that the total installed capacity of solar power in South Korea has been continuously decreasing over the past three years, from 4.7GW in 2020 to 3.4GW in 2022, and is expected to further decrease in 2023.

Closing the factory comes as part of a plan to optimize Hanwha's photovoltaic module production capacity. However, Hanwha stated that it will continue to invest in its factory in Jincheon, South Korea, which will continue to produce TOPCon products and operate a perovskite tandem cell pilot line.

Researchers at South Korea’s Chonnam National University have reported perovskite-organic hybrid tandem solar cells with 23.07% efficiency processed entirely in open air, bringing the technology a step closer to economic viability.

Schematic illustration of the synthesis of all-inorganic perovskite thin films by dynamic hot-air-assisted method. Image from Energy & Environmental Science 

Researchers have largely relied on meticulously engineering the perovskite crystal structure itself for greater resilience. But these delicate handling steps add cost and complexity not suitable for mass production. The team explained that the focus has recently shifted toward all-solution processed solar cells due to their low energy consumption fabrication processes. The team’s innovation, a dynamic hot air deposition technique, simplified the production process by eliminating the need for humidity-controlled environments.

Researchers at Germany’s Fraunhofer ISE have estimated that the practical power conversion efficiency potential of perovskite-silicon tandem solar cells may reach up to 39.5%. In a recent study, the Fraunhofer ISE scientists set out to provide guidelines for future research on perovskite-silicon tandem solar cells by identifying the most significant loss mechanisms at the perovskite/ETL interface, in the series resistance, and in light management.

The team explained that the calculated practical efficiency potential of 39.5% for a perovskite silicon tandem device under standard measurement conditions (STC) can serve as an input for future studies which are required for a better understanding of the full system before the commercialization of tandem solar cell technology can take place.

It was reported that China-based Ideal Deposition Equipment, a technology and equipment company with chemical vapor deposition technology as its core, has entered into a supply agreement with a top American photovoltaic company for manufacturing perovskite cells.

Ideal Deposition primarily focuses on producing equipment for PERC and TOPCon production. In recent years, it has launched a series of related equipment for mainstream photovoltaic cell producers worldwide. Additionally, it manufactures coating equipment for tandem layers of perovskite cells.

China-based BOE Technology Group (BOE), one of the leading companies in the global display technology field, recently launched a project to enter the photovoltaic industry by investing in perovskite solar cells. BOE held a ceremony to launch the project

It is believed that BOE's entry into the perovskite solar cell market will bring new energy to the industry, which is in line with the country's renewable energy policy. The Company has a strong R&D team and extensive experience in display technologies, which could be applied to the development of perovskite solar cells. BOE has also established partnerships with top universities and research institutions to promote the development of perovskite solar cells.

Researchers from the Indian Institute of Science Education and Research Thiruvananthapuram (IISER-TVM), Germany's University of Potsdam and The Chinese University of Hong Kong have addressed an important aspect in the field of perovskite solar cells (PSCs) – the exact role of excess lead iodide content within the perovskite layer. While an optimal amount of excess lead iodide contributes to improved grain boundary passivation and blocking of minority charge carriers, leading to the development of highly efficient PSCs, the photo-stability of PSCs with surplus lead iodide remains a major concern. This concern stems from the catalytic role excess lead iodide can play in the degradation of PSCs under illumination.

The issue often arises during the fabrication of perovskite films using a two-step spin coating method, where the conversion of lead iodide films to perovskite is hindered due to challenges in controlling the reaction between lead iodide films and cationic precursor solutions. Various modifications of the two-step approach are presented in the literature, each aiming to achieve a near full conversion of lead iodide films into perovskite when exposed to cationic precursor solutions.

GCL Photoelectric Materials (GCL Perovskite), a subsidiary of GCL Tech, has announced that it was able to attain a photoelectric conversion efficiency of 18.04% on a perovskite single-junction solar module, with dimensions measuring 1,000mm by 2,000mm. It was reported that this result was officially tested and confirmed by the China National Institute of Metrology.

GCL Perovskite team has been working on achieving this objective of exceeding the anticipated conversion efficiency of 18% for standard-sized perovskite modules, and the team will now focus on conducting research and development for the next-generation perovskite tandem modules.

According to recent reports, China-based Xi'an Tianjiao New Energy has obtained nearly 100 million yuan (over USD$14,100,00) in angel round financing, led by Winreal Investment. The funds will primarily be used for building a perovskite pilot production line with a capacity of 10MW alongside other operational expenses covering consumables and staff.

Tianjiao, a perovskite solar cell developer, specializes in manufacturing single-cell perovskite modules including both flexible and rigid types. The rigid modules find their use primarily in PVBI, whereas the flexible ones are mounted on car roofs or used in 5G base stations.

French PV module manufacturer Voltec Solar has secured €9.3 million ($10.1 million) from Ademe, France’s environmental agency. The company plans to use the funds to accelerate the production of perovskite-silicon tandem solar panels.

The French manufacturer currently operates two 250 MW production lines at its factory in Dinsheim-sur-Bruche, France.