Oxford PV, a spinoff of Oxford University, has achieved a milestone in the field of solar energy with its latest breakthrough. The company has set a new world record for the efficiency of a large-sized perovskite-silicon tandem cell, reaching an impressive 28.6%. This measurement has been confirmed by Germany's Fraunhofer Institute for Solar Energy Systems (ISE).
The previous record for perovskite-silicon tandem cell efficiency was held by Stefaan De Wolf's group at the King Abdullah University of Science and Technology in Saudi Arabia, which achieved 33.2% on a smaller device measuring 1cm². While Oxford PV's achievement falls short of this record, it is significant progress in translating high efficiencies to larger device sizes that can be produced using industrially compatible techniques.
Chris Case, the Chief Technology Officer of Oxford PV, expressed his satisfaction with the latest achievement, stating, “Our latest efficiency achievement of 28.6% is more than 1.5% above our record set last year and exceeds our own roadmap plan of 1% annual increases.” This notable improvement demonstrates the company's commitment to pushing the boundaries of solar cell efficiency.
Oxford PV manufactured the record-breaking cell at its integrated production line located in Brandenburg an der Havel, Germany. Interestingly, this is the same production line responsible for producing the company's 27% efficiency devices. The ability to achieve such high efficiencies using industrial-scale techniques is a crucial step towards the commercialization of perovskite-silicon tandem cells.
While the recent accomplishment highlights the technological prowess and talent of Oxford PV, the company remains focused on further advancing the commercial viability of their technology. David Ward, the Chief Executive Officer of Oxford PV, emphasized their ongoing efforts, stating, “While we continue to innovate on our perovskite-on-silicon technology on small research-sized solar cells, much of our focus has been on improving our commercial-sized cells for the market, ramping up production, and working with our solar module partners to prepare them for assembly into solar panels.” Ward's remarks reflect the company's dedication to bringing their innovative solar cells to the market and establishing valuable partnerships within the industry.
As the year 2023 progresses, Oxford PV aims to continue making excellent progress towards their goals. With their cutting-edge solar cells nearing the hands of module-manufacturing customers, it seems that the potential for widespread adoption of this technology is on the horizon. The commercialization of perovskite-silicon tandem cells holds significant promise for enhancing the efficiency and sustainability of solar energy systems, offering a brighter future for renewable energy production.
