Sign up to our free weekly IndyTech newsletter and have the latest tech news delivered straight to your inbox. A new world record has been set for converting sunlight into electricity, providing a significant boost for renewable energy. Researchers at Longi, the world’s largest solar panel manufacturer, achieved a 34.6 per cent power conversion efficiency using a tandem perovskite-silicon solar cell, exceeding the previous record by 0.7 per cent. This new record is over 7 per cent more efficient than traditional silicon solar cells commonly used in commercial panels.
Perovskite has been recognized as a revolutionary material with the potential to enhance various technologies, from batteries to telecommunications to renewable energy. With traditional silicon solar panels reaching their limits, researchers are exploring next-generation tandem cells to improve solar energy harnessing. Perovskite-silicon cells have a theoretical efficiency limit of 43 per cent, far beyond the 29 per cent limit of standard silicon cells.
Longi has made multiple breakthroughs over the past three years, breaking the world record for solar cell efficiency 16 times. This latest record was announced at the 17th International Solar Photovoltaic and Smart Energy Conference in Shanghai, China. The company also revealed a significant partnership with Saudi energy firm ACWA Power to revolutionize global energy production.
The new record was achieved by optimizing the thin film deposition process of the electron transport layer, developing high-efficiency defect passivation materials, and designing high-quality interfacial passivation structures. Longi, along with other companies, is working on commercializing this technology. In the UK, Oxford PV aims to deliver its perovskite-based solar cells to customers this year after establishing a production facility in Germany
