JEDDAH: Scientists at the King Abdullah University of Science and Technology (KAUST) has unveiled a detailed roadmap for bringing perovskite/silicon tandem solar cells to market, paving the way for affordable, clean energy, the Saudi Press Agency (SPA) reported on Friday.
According to the SPA the new discovery is the result of joint efforts by Professor Stefaan De Wolf and his research team from KAUST Solar Center that focused to enhance the efficiency of solar energy in line with the Kingdom’s plans for solar energy.
The technology combines perovskite’s efficient light absorption and silicon’s stability, to achieve the record-breaking power conversion efficiency with five global records were established in 2023, evidencing rapid advancements in this domain.
The roadmap acknowledges the translation of lab success to practical application, emphasizing the importance of testing in varied environmental conditions and assessing long-term stability through accelerated aging tests. These steps are vital for determining competitive pricing and warranties.
The SPA, citing a statement of the KAUST, said the current manufacturing processes involve high material costs and potentially dangerous chemicals that may require costly safety precautions. The statement proposes paradigms for both monolithic and mechanically stacked tandem production lines to identify cost-reduction opportunities.
Professor De Wolf predicts a market value exceeding $10 billion for these tandem cells within a decade. He emphasized KAUST’s leading role in this energy revolution, aiming to provide universally accessible clean energy.
