Imagine adding a special high-performance layer on top of a standard silicon solar cell, like adding a turbocharger to an engine. This project creates a 'sandwich' of two different materials to capture more sunlight than current panels can. It moves this technology from a small lab experiment to a real factory line to make them in bulk.
Standard silicon solar cells are reaching their physical efficiency limits, slowing the pace of energy transition. Europe lacks a domestic, high-volume production chain for next-generation high-efficiency PV modules.
A pilot production line in Germany and a set of manufacturing processes for perovskite-silicon tandem cells, including tested encapsulation materials for long-term stability.
If you are a PV module manufacturer dealing with the efficiency limits of standard silicon cells — this project developed a pilot line that enables 26%-efficient modules on industrial scale. This allows you to produce higher-performance panels with a lower CO2 footprint.
If you are a solar farm developer dealing with limited land area for energy production — this project developed tandem cells that push efficiencies beyond the limit of Si. This means you can generate more power from the same amount of surface area.
If you are a material supplier dealing with the degradation of solar cells in harsh weather — this project developed a screening of encapsulation materials to meet market expectations of over 30 years of stability.
The project aims to provide the best ratio of performance over manufacturing costs to ensure a cost-effective solution for decarbonization. Based on available project data, specific price-per-watt figures are not provided.
Yes, the project is establishing a pilot line in Thalheim, Germany, to demonstrate high-volume manufacturing processes. The goal is to enable GW-scale production in Europe by 2030.
Based on available project data, specific licensing terms are not mentioned, but the project involves a consortium of 17 partners including 8 industry players and 6 SMEs to build a European innovation base.
The pilot line is expected to be set up by 2026, with a long-term vision of reaching GW-scale production by 2030.
The technology 'spices up' existing industrial Si cells by adding a thin perovskite top cell in a monolithic tandem device, leveraging existing silicon foundations.
The consortium is heavily weighted toward commercialization with a 47% industry ratio, comprising 8 industry partners (including 6 SMEs) and 17 total members across 12 countries. The presence of Q CELLS, one of the world's largest PV module manufacturers, as the coordinator ensures the research is directly aligned with industrial manufacturing requirements and market scalability.
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Contact us to connect with the PEPPERONI consortium for pilot line partnerships.
