Meyer Burger pushes tandem solar modules with perovskites

12/19/2022 | Print view

The new record was achieved on the basis of an industrially dewable crystalline solar cell. - © Q Cells/HZB — © Q Cells/HZB

The new record was achieved on the basis of an industrially dewable crystalline solar cell.

In order to produce even more efficient solar cells and modules in the future, Meyer Burger has now brought other partners on board: In a consortium with CSEM from Switzerland, the Helmholtz Centre Berlin, Fraunhofer ISE and the University of Stuttgart, industrial cells with efficiencies of more than 30 per cent are to be produced.

Accordingly, the development of the new production technologies is to be used in Meyer Burger's proprietary business model and only for its own production. The aim is to further significantly increase the yield of commercial solar modules. "Meyer Burger has a comprehensive portfolio of processes, technologies and production techniques for its own potential mass production of tandem solar cells and modules based on many years of in-house development," says Marcel König.

Perovskite cells with smart-wire technology

König is head of research and development at Meyer Burger. This includes the essential manufacturing processes and machines for silicon-based perovskite tandem solar cells and corresponding solar modules with Meyer Burger's proprietary smart-wire interconnection technology.

The Institute for Photovoltaics at the University of Stuttgart is conducting intensive research into the properties of the new materials for the new solar cell technology. Perovskites are a new class of semiconductors that emit and absorb light throughout the visible and infrared ranges. They consist of inexpensive, frequently occurring individual components.

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Perovskite technology is a major milestone in Meyer Burger's innovation roadmap. Meyer Burger has already achieved success in the industrialisation of the new technology. For example, CSEM and Meyer Burger were able to achieve a record efficiency of 29.6 per cent for a 25-square-centimetre perovskite tandem solar cell.

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For this, the Swiss researchers combined heterojunction silicon cells with perovskite structures. "This result shows the potential of silicon perovskite tandem cells to achieve high efficiencies. Even though there is still a lot of work ahead, the industrialisation of solar cells with an efficiency of over 30 per cent is on the right track," says Professor Christophe Ballif, Director Sustainable Energy at CSEM. (nhp)