Qcells Claims Tandem Solar Cell Efficiency World Record

The firm claims the new process is commercially scalable

Qcells, a leading solar cells and modules manufacturer, has claimed a a new world record, reaching 28.6% for tandem solar cell efficiency on a full-area M10-sized cell that can be scaled for mass manufacturing. This result was achieved having begun large-area tandem development in 2023, as major solar manufacturers across the world attempt to reach this level of efficiency with perovskite technology.

“The tandem cell technology developed at Qcells will accelerate the commercialization process of this technology and, ultimately, deliver a great leap forward in photovoltaic performance,” said Danielle Merfeld, Global CTO at Qcells. “We are committed to advancing the next generation of solar energy efficiency and will keep investing significantly in research and development to drive progress in this field as every kilowatt counts on the path to building a more sustainable future.”

Qcells’ 28.6% certified record efficiency, independently verified by the CalLab at the Fraunhofer Institute for Solar Energy Systems (ISE), brings the industry one step closer to commercializing solar technology that is more powerful and affordable. Qcells’ new record for tandem solar efficiency is based on perovskite technology of the top cell and proprietary Q.ANTUM technology of the bottom cell. The value is a total-area measurement on a full-area M10-sized (roughly .36 square feet or 330.56 cm²) cell produced on Qcells’ R&D pilot line in Germany using a standard industrial silicon wafer that can be interconnected into an industrial module. This approach to tandem development focuses on commercial processes and tools that readily scales to mass manufacturing rather than attempting to show a proof of concept in a lab scale environment.

Qcells’ stacking of a perovskite top and silicon bottom solar cell to form a tandem cell improves performance by capturing high-energy light more efficiently by the top cell while low-energy light is being transmitted and captured by the bottom cell. This improves the power per area and therefore less modules are needed to achieve the same solar system power output. This breakthrough has the potential to further reduce the cost of solar energy, and the land footprint needed for solar projects making solar even more affordable, accessible and sustainable.

Qcells claims that its R&D teams have been working since 2016 to develop a commercially viable tandem solar cell based on perovskite top-cell technology and Qcells proprietary silicon bottom-cell technology. In 2019, Qcells significantly boosted its efforts to realize the next-generation solar product at the company’s well-established R&D foothold in Bitterfeld-Wolfen, Germany, and by launching a dedicated research center in Pangyo, Korea. Following a series of R&D feats in developing highly efficient small-area tandem solar cells, Qcells has pivoted its focus to large-area tandem development, which lead to this new world record efficiency of a tandem solar cell.

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The Bitterfeld-Wolfen R&D Center in Germany is supported by funding of the German government, the state of Saxony-Anhalt, the EU commission including the light-house project PEPPERONI, along with the Dutch and Swiss governments. The work leading to this record efficiency tandem cell achievement has been partially funded by the German Federal Ministry for Economic Affairs and Climate Action (BMWK), the state of Saxony-Anhalt and the EU commission. Qcells’ Pangyo R&D center, appointed as a research institute for national projects, has received ongoing support from the Korean government to develop commercially viable tandem cell technology.

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Headquartered in Seoul, South Korea (Global Executive HQ) with its diverse international manufacturing facilities in the U.S., Malaysia, and South Korea. Qcells offers clean energy through the full spectrum of photovoltaic products, storage solutions, renewable electricity contracting and large-scale solar power plants. Through its growing global business network spanning Europe, North America, Asia, South America, Africa and the Middle East, Qcells provides services and long-term partnerships to its customers in the utility, commercial, governmental and residential markets.