Development of Perovskite/Si Tandem Cell and Panel

Project Name: Development of Perovskite/Si Tandem Cell and Panel

Project Principal Investigator: Assoc. Prof. Dr. Selçuk YERCİ

Responsible APYK: ODTÜ-GÜNAM

Project Information:

Silicon-based solar cells dominate more than 90% of today’s PV market due to their high efficiency, reliability, and durability. It is predicted that silicon solar cells will continue to dominate the PV market in the near and medium term. However, the efficiency values that Si solar cells can reach are limited by the Shockley-Queisser limit of 29.4%. In addition to this theoretical limit, the efficiency of commercially available cost-effective Si solar cells today is between 18-23% due to many technological challenges. One of the methods to increase the efficiency/cost ratio (kWh/TL), which is the most suitable unit determining competitiveness in solar energy, is the use of structures called multi-junction (tandem) by producing more than one cell on top of each other. According to the international photovoltaic roadmap, Si-based tandem solar cells will enter the market as of 2023 and will take an increasing share in the photovoltaic market over the years. Increasing our country’s competitiveness in this pioneering technology is of utmost importance. Perovskite is the most promising material envisioned for use with Si-based solar cells today. In line with the 4T tandem target, semi-transparent perovskite panels with an area of at least 156 mm x 156 mm and an efficiency of over 17% will be developed. Bifacial c-Si solar cells required for tandem cells will be developed in the 1st and 4th projects by ODTÜ-GÜNAM and Bereket Enerji and provided to this project. In the 1st and 4th projects, it is aimed to improve Si solar cells to achieve an efficiency of over 10% from photons in the approximate wavelength range of 750-1200 nm, which are not absorbed by perovskite, for use in tandem cells. At the same time, increasing the sensitivity of these Si solar cells, which will operate on both sides, to light coming from the rear side is also critical. Close collaboration is foreseen in these studies with imec (perovskite panel development) from Belgium and TNO (4T tandem panel development) from the Netherlands, as well as EPFL (increasing perovskite stability and developing cost-effective electron transport layer) university from Switzerland. The project will also develop and test a mini tandem solar panel consisting of 4 (2×2) tandem solar cells. Finally, a cost analysis is planned in the project (in the 12th project). Thanks to the outputs of this project, which aims to achieve a significant improvement in TRL and develop key information, Türkiye will secure a leading position for itself in next-generation solar cells.