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Breakthrough in Solar Efficiency with CIGS-Perovskite Tandem Cells and Other Innovations

Researchers from Helmholtz-Zentrum Berlin (HZB) and Humboldt University, Berlin, have achieved a significant milestone in solar technology by reaching an efficiency of 24.6% with a copper indium gallium selenide (CIGS)-perovskite tandem solar cell. Certified by the Fraunhofer Institute for Solar Energy Systems, this achievement marks a key advancement in the development of tandem cells, which combine a CIGS-based bottom cell with a perovskite top cell. The perovskite absorber layer for the cell was developed in a joint laboratory between HZB and Humboldt University.

Tandem solar cells are considered promising for their potential to surpass the efficiency limits of traditional solar cells. The CIGS-perovskite combination offers enhanced performance and can be applied to flexible substrates, providing an added benefit in terms of scalability and material efficiency. Researchers are optimistic that the combination of CIGS and perovskite will enable solar cells to exceed 30?ficiency in the future, offering an exciting outlook for the solar energy industry.

The field of perovskite solar cells is also witnessing rapid progress. A team led by the University of Surrey and Imperial College London has identified a method to improve the performance and stability of perovskite solar cells, increasing their power conversion efficiency to 23.2%. The strategy also improved the cells' lifetime by 66%, showing great potential for long-term viability.

In another breakthrough, JinkoSolar, a leading Chinese solar module manufacturer, reported that its N-type tunnel oxide passivated contact (TOPCon)-based perovskite tandem solar cell achieved an efficiency of 33.84%, surpassing its previous record of 33.24%. The performance of this innovative tandem technology was independently tested by the Shanghai Institute of Microsystem and Information Technology.

Additionally, Trina Solar, another major Chinese solar photovoltaics company, announced that its industrial n-type total passivation solar cell, based on heterojunction technology, achieved a front-side efficiency of 27.08%, further underscoring the rapid advancements in solar cell efficiency and the growing potential of next-generation solar technologies.

These breakthroughs in tandem cell and perovskite technology represent a significant leap forward in the quest for higher efficiency solar cells, paving the way for more cost-effective and sustainable solar power generation in the future.