LONGi Green Energy Technology Co Ltd, a prominent player in China’s photovoltaic industry, made headlines by achieving a new world record in solar cell efficiency. Their silicon-perovskite tandem solar cells reached a remarkable conversion efficiency of 33.9 percent. This achievement, now recognized as the highest efficiency record globally for perovskite/silicon tandem cells, received confirmation from the US National Renewable Energy Laboratory (NREL), an affiliate of the Department of Energy.
Tandem solar cells, combining a silicon bottom cell and a perovskite top cell, can convert approximately one-third of incident solar radiation into electrical energy. This remarkable milestone surpasses the previous record of 33.7 percent set by the KAUST Photovoltaics Laboratory in Saudi Arabia in May.
Li Zhenguo, President of LONGi, emphasized the importance of improving cell conversion efficiency and reducing the cost of electricity in advancing the photovoltaic industry during a recent press conference. Monocrystalline silicon solar cells, which dominate over 90 percent of the market, are approaching their theoretical efficiency limit of 29.4 percent. However, the tandem solar cells, utilizing monocrystalline silicon and perovskite materials, boast a theoretical efficiency limit of up to 43 percent, enabling them to generate more electricity with the same area and absorbed light.
LONGi has been actively developing both cell technologies, making it a pioneer in global research and development. Jiang Hua, Deputy Secretary-General of the China Photovoltaic Industry Association (CPIA), noted that cost reduction and efficiency improvement are vital for the cost-driven photovoltaic industry. LONGi’s high-efficiency cell technology, when put into mass production, has the potential to significantly reduce the overall cost of photovoltaic power generation, fostering growth in China’s domestic market and the global photovoltaic industry.
The company’s substantial investments in research and development underscore its commitment to advancing the PV industry. LONGi aims to further engage in the global PV industry’s development through investments and technical collaborations, facilitating the entry of more Chinese enterprises into the global high-end manufacturing stage.
