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Oxford PV creates solar cell with 27.3 percent efficiency

Jason RothmanJune 25, 2018 1264 0

Oxford PV creates a solar cell with 27.3 percent efficiency

Perovskite solar cell developer Oxford Photovoltaics just reported a new perovskite tandem solar cell record with an efficiency of 27.3 percent. This is significant for two reasons, first, this is a breakthrough in efficiency for any solar panel material, and second, it is important to know about new materials because they aren't relevant until suddenly they are.
 

What is a perovskite solar cell?

A perovskite solar cell is a type of solar cell which includes a perovskite-structured compound, most commonly a hybrid organic-inorganic lead or tin halide-based material, as the light-harvesting active layer. Perovskite materials such as methylammonium lead halides are cheap to produce and simple to manufacture.

Solar cell efficiencies of devices using these materials have increased from 3.8 percent in 2009 to 22.7% in late 2017 in single-junction architectures, and, in silicon-based tandem cells, up to 26.7 percent and 25.2 p[ercent in 4-terminal and 2-terminal configuration respectively. And now with the 27.3 percent record.

Perovskite solar cells are therefore the fastest-advancing solar technology to date. With the potential of achieving even higher efficiencies and the very low production costs, perovskite solar cells have become commercially attractive. This could mean a shift in the market, just like when polycrystalline solar cells burst onto the market and then took over as the dominant type of residential solar panel. If the material is inexpensive to produce, and the efficiency is higher than other panels, then it is only a matter of time before we see these dominate the market. 

Oxford PV’s latest record for a 1 cm2 perovskite-silicon tandem solar, exceeds the 26.7 percent efficiency world record for a single-junction silicon solar cell.

Recently, the company highlighted that it had produced a 1 cm2 perovskite-silicon two-terminal tandem solar cell with a verified conversion efficiency of 25.2 percent, through an ongoing collaboration with Helmholtz-Zentrum Berlin (HZB) and the Photovoltaics and Optoelectronics Device Group at the University of Oxford, led by Professor Snaith.

Solar efficiency keeps growing

Frank P. Averdung, Chief Executive Officer at Oxford PV  said the efficiency result further validates the ability of perovskite to enhance the performance of silicon-based photovoltaics. Continuing to improve the performance of photovoltaics is fundamental for sustaining the growth of solar-generated electricity.

Oxford PV is currently scaling its perovskite-silicon solar cell technology from the lab to high-volume manufacturing capability as it bids to license the technology to mainstream PV cell manufacturers. 

If you want to move into the future and join the solar revolution, or if you want to find out what solar panels are right for you, go to HahaSmart.com and try our price checker tool. You can see how much a system will cost, and how much you can save over the next 20 years.

For more information relating to going solar, don't forget to visit our solar blog section for more handy guides and articles.

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