Fraunhofer Institute for Solar Energy Systems (ISE) has launched two research projects, “Pero-Si-SCALE” and “LiverPool,” with funding from the German Federal Ministry for Economic Affairs and Climate Action. The projects aim to establish a technology platform for scaling up perovskite-silicon tandem solar cells and modules. These solar cells have the potential to achieve efficiencies of over 30 percent. The Fraunhofer ISE research platform will focus on developing cell and module designs, as well as manufacturing processes, to enable a rapid transfer to the solar industry.
Prof. Dr. Stefan Glunz, Division Director for Photovoltaics Research at Fraunhofer ISE, stated that this research platform is unique worldwide and positions German PV research and development as an exclusive leader in this field. The initiative aims to support the German and European photovoltaic industry in developing and implementing the next generation of solar cells.
The Pero-Si-SCALE platform will establish the necessary processes, technologies, and expertise for manufacturing, characterizing, and testing perovskite-silicon solar cells and modules on an industrial wafer format. Dr. Martin Hermle, project manager at Fraunhofer ISE, explained that the process line, to be completed by the end of 2024, will include vacuum deposition and wet chemical coating equipment for the perovskite subcell at the cell level. At the module level, an advanced adhesive stringer and a luminescence system for quality control will be available.
Currently, wet chemical spin coating is commonly used for laboratory-scale perovskite cell fabrication. However, this method is not scalable to industrial-sized substrates. Therefore, the Pero-Si-SCALE platform will focus on vacuum evaporation methods for applying the perovskite subcell and contacts. The LiverPool project aims to develop industrially viable vacuum evaporation processes for the deposition of perovskite materials and contact layers.
The scaling up of perovskite-silicon tandem technology will be a key topic of discussion at the upcoming 3rd tandemPV workshop in France. Fraunhofer ISE researchers, Dr. Patricia Schulze and Oussama Er-Raji, will deliver presentations on the process and upscaling in this field. Oussama Er-Raji will share insights on a hybrid process for high-efficiency perovskite-silicon tandem solar cells, while Dr. Patricia Schulze will provide an overview of current research on perovskite-silicon tandem photovoltaics at Fraunhofer ISE.
 initiates "Pero-Si-SCALE" and "LiverPool" research projects to establish a technology platform for scaling up perovskite-silicon tandem solar cells. These innovative solar cells offer efficiencies of over 30 percent, and the projects aim to develop manufacturing processes and designs for rapid implementation in the solar industry.){kind=link}