TNO has announced the successful application of a perovskite solar module on foil to a roof tile. In doing do, the Dutch research organization has taken a step toward embedding solar generation directly into building materials.
Perovskite solar roof tile. Image credit: TNO
The test modules reached efficiencies of up to 13.8%, and even after installation on a curved composite roof tile, maintained 12.4% efficiency. These results show that bending the flexible perovskite foil has only a minimal impact on performance, highlighting the suitability of this technology for real-world architectural applications.
Developed in collaboration with ASAT B.V., the flexible perovskite solar foil and associated production processes are ready for industrial-scale roll-to-roll (R2R) manufacturing, making them suitable for both customized solutions and large-scale deployment. TNO has advanced from lab-scale test cells to flexible 10×10 cm modules, culminating in a practical solar roof tile prototype.
This achievement stems from the TNO Solar Program, which unites expertise in material development, production, and testing across Dutch and European partnerships. Dogan from TNO emphasized the value of international collaboration: “Working across national and European projects enables us to advance perovskite technology toward a full R2R manufacturing platform and demonstrate what flexible perovskite PV can achieve when produced entirely in R2R.”
The milestone reinforces TNO’s commitment to the energy transition, sustainability, and European solar manufacturing. Looking ahead, TNO aims to further enhance the lifetime, reliability, and scalability of perovskite PV systems. To support commercialization, TNO recently launched the spin‑out Perovion Technologies.
