LONGi Achieves New World Record of 35.5% Efficiency for Perovskite-Silicon Tandem Solar Cell

July 19, 2026

PV Magazine Global China

Overview

Chinese PV giant LONGi has announced a new world record power conversion efficiency of 35.5% for its two-terminal perovskite-silicon tandem solar cell, as certified by the European Solar Test Installation (ESTI). This significant achievement marks a continuous improvement from the company’s previous record of 34.85% in less than a year. The record, along with high efficiencies demonstrated in larger tandem cells and modules, underscores the rapid progress in transitioning perovskite technology from lab-scale research to industrial application, promising a future of more cost-effective solar energy.

In Depth

Key Findings

LONGi, a leading Chinese photovoltaic (PV) manufacturer, has achieved a new world record power conversion efficiency of 35.5% for its two-terminal crystalline silicon-perovskite tandem solar cell. This remarkable milestone, independently certified by the European Solar Test Installation (ESTI), represents a significant leap forward in the commercialization potential of perovskite solar cell technology.

Technical and Research Details

The record-breaking efficiency demonstrates LONGi’s continuous innovation, improving upon its previous record of 34.85% in less than a year. Beyond small-area cell records, the company also reported high certified efficiencies for larger tandem cells: 34.3% for a 261 cm² cell and 32.2% for a 274 cm² cell. Furthermore, tandem modules achieved impressive efficiencies of 31.4% and 29.4%. These results are crucial as they suggest that the high efficiencies achieved in laboratory settings can be scaled up for larger-scale manufacturing, fueling optimism for future mass production. The tandem structure, which combines silicon and perovskite solar cells, is particularly promising because the perovskite layer efficiently utilizes light energy that silicon alone cannot absorb, potentially pushing efficiencies beyond the theoretical limits of single-junction solar cells.

Background and Industry Context

Perovskite solar cells are at the forefront of next-generation solar technology research and development globally. Their high efficiency and potential for low-cost manufacturing are expected to revolutionize the traditional silicon solar cell market. The tandem structure, combining perovskite with existing silicon technology, is widely considered one of the most promising commercialization strategies. The continuous breaking of world records by major manufacturers like LONGi highlights the increasing maturity of the technology and is poised to accelerate competition and innovation across the entire industry.

Outlook and Strategic Significance

While LONGi has stated that this achievement is a laboratory record and has not yet announced a specific timeline for commercial production, the high efficiencies achieved in larger cells and modules indicate that technical challenges related to practical application are being overcome. Should this technology reach mass production, it could significantly reduce the cost of solar electricity generation, further accelerating the adoption of renewable energy. The ongoing R&D efforts by LONGi and competition from other players are expected to further drive the market introduction of perovskite solar cells.

Source: https://pv-magazine.com/2026/07/15/longi-sets-new-world-record-with-35-5-efficient-perovskite-silicon-tandem-cell/

Get our weekly technology intelligence — free

Receive an infographic that lets you judge at a glance whether each field’s analysis report is worth reading.

Subscribe Free — Weekly Tech Intelligence

By subscribing, you’ll receive Troy-Technical’s weekly technology intelligence newsletter.