Former U.S. Energy Secretary Jennifer Granholm Joins Tandem PV Board of Directors to Accelerate Perovskite-Silicon Tandem Solar Cell Commercialization

Tandem PV (via press release distribution) USA

Overview

Former U.S. Energy Secretary Jennifer Granholm has joined the board of directors of Tandem PV, a company developing perovskite-silicon tandem solar cells. Tandem PV was founded through the DOE’s Activate accelerator after co-founder and CTO Colin Bailie developed the world’s first perovskite-silicon tandem solar cell at Stanford University. The company has raised a total of $87 million from venture capital, debt, and government funding, and Granholm’s appointment provides a significant boost towards commercialization.

In Depth

Key Findings

Former U.S. Energy Secretary Jennifer Granholm has been appointed to the board of directors of Tandem PV, a pioneering company developing next-generation perovskite-silicon tandem solar cells. This strategic appointment is critically significant for strengthening the collaboration between government, industry, and academia in the clean energy sector, and for accelerating the commercialization of Tandem PV’s innovative technology. Ms. Granholm is expected to bring extensive experience and knowledge in energy policy and renewable energy deployment to Tandem PV, providing a powerful impetus to the company’s growth trajectory.

Technical Details

Tandem PV traces its origins to co-founder and CTO Colin Bailie’s development of the world’s first perovskite-silicon tandem solar cell at Stanford University. The company aims to achieve efficiencies exceeding 30%, which is unattainable by single solar cells, by layering a thin perovskite film on top of existing silicon solar cells. To date, Tandem PV has raised a total of $87 million through venture capital, debt, and government funding, securing the capital required to build a 40-megawatt (MW) demonstration plant. Ms. Granholm’s expertise is expected to contribute to strategic planning in areas addressing the technical challenges faced by Tandem PV, particularly in scalability for mass production, long-term stability, and securing the supply chain.

Background & Context

Perovskite-silicon tandem solar cells hold the potential to break through the efficiency limits of conventional silicon solar cells and significantly improve the cost-effectiveness of solar power. The United States is accelerating investment in clean energy technologies to combat climate change and enhance energy independence, positioning perovskite technology at the forefront of these efforts. The addition of a prominent policymaker like Jennifer Granholm to a private company’s board signals an alignment between government priorities and corporate strategic goals, instilling strong confidence in investors and the broader market. This also underscores deep-rooted collaboration with government agencies, given Tandem PV’s origins as a startup emerging from the DOE’s Activate accelerator program.

Strategic Significance & Outlook

Ms. Granholm’s involvement with Tandem PV’s board marks a pivotal moment for accelerating the company’s technological development and market deployment. The company has already begun shipping T20 modules to utility-scale customers, which is clear evidence that perovskite-silicon tandem technology is transitioning from the laboratory to practical application. Moving forward, Tandem PV will aim to establish mass production capabilities and drive down costs through the operation of its large-scale demonstration plant, targeting broader market penetration. Tandem PV’s success is poised to become a symbol of innovation in the U.S. clean energy industry, making a significant contribution to the global energy transition.