Fraunhofer ISE Launches New Lab to Advance Perovskite-Silicon Solar Technology

Germany’s Fraunhofer Institute for Solar Energy Systems (Fraunhofer ISE) has opened a new research facility aimed at accelerating the commercialization of next-generation perovskite-silicon tandem solar cells, a technology widely seen as a major breakthrough in photovoltaic efficiency.

Named Pero-Si-SCALE, the laboratory is designed to help European solar manufacturers scale advanced tandem cell designs from laboratory concepts to industry-standard production formats. The facility will support large-format wafer processing, detailed performance analysis, and module integration using scalable manufacturing methods aligned with commercial production lines.

Perovskite-silicon tandem cells combine an ultra-thin perovskite layer with a conventional silicon solar cell, significantly boosting theoretical efficiency limits—from 29.4% for standard silicon cells to as high as 43.3%. Fraunhofer ISE has already demonstrated more than 33% efficiency in laboratory-scale tandem cells using its hybrid production approach, which combines vacuum and wet chemical processing techniques.

A key advantage of this approach is its compatibility with today’s textured silicon solar cells, allowing manufacturers to integrate tandem technology into existing production infrastructure while increasing energy output.

The new facility also builds on Fraunhofer ISE’s two decades of silicon PV manufacturing expertise through its Photovoltaic Technology Evaluation Center (PV-TEC), which will support optimized silicon bottom-cell development for tandem applications.

Industry leaders see the move as strategically important for Europe’s solar manufacturing future. By advancing scalable perovskite-silicon production technologies, the new lab could strengthen Europe’s position in high-efficiency solar innovation and open new opportunities for regional PV manufacturing competitiveness.