In a major leap toward the next generation of solar technology, researchers at the Fraunhofer Institute for Solar Energy Systems ISE have achieved a groundbreaking milestone with triple-junction solar cells. These cutting-edge cells, comprising two perovskite subcells and one silicon subcell, have demonstrated an extraordinary open-circuit voltage of over 2.8 volts. This remarkable achievement suggests that the technology holds immense promise for efficient electricity generation.
Traditionally, silicon solar cells have open-circuit voltages ranging from 0.7 to 0.8 volts. Dr. Juliane Borchert, Group Leader for Perovskite-Silicon Technologies at Fraunhofer ISE and the University of Freiburg, emphasized the significance of this achievement, noting that the high voltage is indicative of the exceptional material properties of these triple-junction solar cells. Such properties pave the way for highly efficient solar cell architecture.
The performance of a solar cell depends on three critical factors: open-circuit voltage, short-circuit current, and fill factor. The research team’s record-breaking open-circuit voltage underscores the material’s intrinsic suitability for efficient electricity generation.
These advancements build on the success of perovskite-silicon tandem solar cells, which have already achieved efficiencies exceeding 30 percent. Fraunhofer ISE recently recorded an efficiency of 30.0 percent in their internal laboratory measurements for such cells. Professor Dr. Stefan Glunz, Division Director for Photovoltaics at Fraunhofer ISE, emphasized the importance of tandem photovoltaics in achieving higher efficiencies and the ongoing efforts to scale up the development of perovskite-silicon tandem solar cells for industrial use.
The breakthrough in triple-junction solar cells not only showcases their potential but also opens new horizons for advancing solar technology, offering a glimpse into a more efficient and sustainable energy future.
