Background
Improving solar photovoltaic efficiency is crucial for addressing climate change and reducing energy costs. Conventional silicon solar cells are mature technology, with efficiency gains becoming incremental. However, perovskite-silicon tandem technology offers the potential for substantial efficiency improvements while leveraging existing infrastructure, thus attracting significant industry attention. LONGi’s record highlights the leadership of Chinese companies in cutting-edge technological development amidst intense global research competition. Just two days after LONGi’s announcement, Qcells also revealed its perovskite-silicon tandem module had passed IEC 61215 and UL safety certifications, further bolstering confidence in the technology’s reliability and practical implementation.
Key Findings
LONGi, a leading Chinese solar power company, has achieved a world-record power conversion efficiency of 35.5% for its perovskite-silicon tandem solar cell, effectively breaking the Shockley-Queisser limit of 33.7% for single-junction solar cells. This accomplishment marks a historic milestone in solar cell technology, significantly boosting the prospects for commercializing next-generation photovoltaics.
Technical Details
Perovskite-silicon tandem solar cells are designed to surpass the efficiency limits of single-junction devices by combining a high-bandgap perovskite layer that absorbs the visible light spectrum with a low-bandgap silicon layer that captures the near-infrared spectrum. LONGi’s 35.5% efficiency demonstrates the theoretical potential of this tandem structure, achieved through advanced optimization in materials science, interface engineering, and device design. This breakthrough is attributed to innovations that minimize carrier recombination losses and maximize charge extraction efficiency from both layers. This record-breaking efficiency paves the way for further improvements, targeting the new Shockley-Queisser limit for tandem solar cells, which stands at approximately 43%.
Strategic Significance & Outlook
The 35.5% efficiency achieved by LONGi strongly suggests that perovskite-silicon tandem solar cells are poised to become a dominant force in the photovoltaic market within the next few years. This, coupled with Qcells’ certification, indicates a steady transition of laboratory breakthroughs into commercial products. Mass production is projected between 2028 and 2030, which will dramatically increase the power output per unit area of solar installations, improve land use efficiency, and enable lower-cost electricity generation. This technology is expected to be a game-changer, particularly for urban areas with limited installation space and for countries aiming to meet ambitious renewable energy targets.
Source: https://techvogue.blog/blog/longi-shatters-shockley-queisser-limit-355
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