PERCISTAND · Project

Next-Generation Thin-Film Solar Cells That Push Efficiency Past 30%

energyTestedTRL 5

Regular solar panels have a hard ceiling on how much sunlight they can convert to electricity — like a bucket that can only catch so much rain. This project stacked two different light-catching layers on top of each other: a perovskite layer on top and a copper-indium-selenide layer underneath. Each layer grabs a different part of the sunlight spectrum, so together they catch more. The team built working prototypes targeting 30% efficiency — well above today's standard silicon panels — and showed they could be made thin, lightweight, and potentially cheap enough for real manufacturing.

By the numbers

30%

Cell efficiency target for perovskite-on-CIS tandem

25%

Module efficiency target for tandem mini-module

20%

Semi-transparent perovskite cell efficiency target

90%

Transparency below band gap for semi-transparent cell

20×20 cm²

Maximum substrate area for scalable manufacturing

1000 h

Stability test duration at 85°C under load

Consortium partners across 7 countries

10 cm²

Mini-module demonstrator aperture area

The business problem

What needed solving

Standard single-junction solar panels are hitting their theoretical efficiency ceiling, meaning you need more roof or land area to generate the same power. For building-integrated applications, existing solar technology is either too opaque, too heavy, or too inefficient to make commercial sense on facades and windows. The solar industry needs a thin, lightweight, high-efficiency technology that can be manufactured cost-competitively at scale.

The solution

What was built

The team built tandem solar cell demonstrators combining perovskite and copper-indium-selenide layers: monolithic and stacked cells at 0.5 cm² targeting 30% efficiency, semi-transparent perovskite cells targeting 20% efficiency with 90% transparency, mini-modules at 10 cm² targeting 25% efficiency, and large-area CIS substrates at 20×20 cm². They also delivered a complete lifecycle assessment and techno-economic analysis of the technology.

Audience

Who needs this

Thin-film solar module manufacturers seeking next-generation cell technologyBIPV companies developing solar facades, windows, and architectural glassEquipment suppliers for PV manufacturing linesEnergy companies investing in high-efficiency solar farmsAutomotive and aerospace companies exploring vehicle-integrated photovoltaics

Business applications

Who can put this to work

Building-Integrated Photovoltaics (BIPV)

mid-size

Target: Facade and glass manufacturers, BIPV system integrators

If you are a building materials company struggling to offer energy-generating facades that look good and perform well — this project developed semi-transparent perovskite cells with 90% transparency below band gap and efficiency above 20%. These thin-film tandems work on glass substrates and are applicable to flexible substrates, opening the door to solar windows and architectural glass that actually generate meaningful power.

Thin-Film Solar Manufacturing

enterprise

Target: PV module manufacturers and equipment suppliers

If you are a thin-film solar manufacturer looking to compete with silicon on efficiency — this project demonstrated perovskite-on-CIS tandem cells targeting 30% efficiency at cell level and 25% at module level, using processes scalable to 20×20 cm². They also completed lifecycle assessment and techno-economic analysis confirming competitiveness with existing commercial PV technologies.

Flexible and Portable Energy Solutions

SME

Target: Off-grid power, vehicle-integrated PV, and portable electronics companies

If you are a company developing lightweight energy solutions for vehicles, drones, or portable equipment — this project's all-thin-film tandem technology is designed to work on flexible substrates as well as glass. With stability tested to IEC standards including T80 performance at 85°C for 1000 hours, these cells offer both high efficiency and the durability needed for demanding applications.

Frequently asked

Quick answers

What would it cost to license or adopt this tandem solar technology?

The project completed a full techno-economic analysis (TEA) confirming the technology must be cost-competitive with existing commercial PV. Specific licensing terms would need to be negotiated with the consortium led by IMEC in Belgium. As a publicly funded RIA project, results are typically available for licensing.

Can this be manufactured at industrial scale?

The project specifically targeted manufacturability: all processes were designed to be scalable to 20×20 cm² substrates using sustainable and low-cost materials. They demonstrated mini-modules at 10 cm² and CIS cell stacks on 20×20 cm² samples. Full industrial scale-up would still require further engineering.

What is the IP situation and how can I access this technology?

PERCISTAND was an EU-funded RIA project with 13 partners. IP is likely shared among consortium members including IMEC (coordinator), universities, and industrial partners. Contact IMEC or check the project website at percistand.eu for licensing discussions.

How does this compare to standard silicon solar panels?

The project states that their tandem device significantly outperforms not only stand-alone perovskite and chalcogenide devices, but also best single-junction silicon devices. Their efficiency target is 30% at cell level — compared to roughly 26% for the best silicon cells today.

How reliable are these new solar cells?

Stability was tested in line with International Electrotechnical Commission (IEC) standards, targeting performance similar to commercially available PV technologies. The CIS component demonstrated T80 performance under 1-sun illumination at 85°C load for 1000 hours.

What about environmental impact and critical materials?

The project completed a full lifecycle assessment (LCA) including a final statement on reduced use of critical materials such as Indium, and a final statement on emissions reductions. The objective explicitly required low environmental footprint using sustainable materials.

Is this ready for my production line today?

Not yet. The project closed in June 2023 with demonstrators at small scale (0.5 cm² cells, 10 cm² modules, 20×20 cm² substrates). This is proven at lab and prototype level but would need further development for full production integration.

Consortium

Who built it

PERCISTAND brings together 13 partners from 7 countries (Australia, Belgium, Switzerland, Germany, France, Netherlands, USA), coordinated by IMEC — one of Europe's leading microelectronics and nanotechnology research centers. The consortium includes 3 industrial partners (23% industry ratio) and 1 SME, alongside 5 universities and 5 research organizations. This heavy research presence reflects the project's focus on pushing efficiency boundaries. For a business looking to adopt the results, IMEC as coordinator is a strong commercialization partner with deep industry ties and a track record of technology transfer. The international spread — particularly including Germany, France, and the Netherlands — covers Europe's key thin-film PV manufacturing hubs.

INTERUNIVERSITAIR MICRO-ELECTRONICA CENTRUMCoordinator · BE
UNIVERSITEIT HASSELTparticipant · BE
VLAAMSE INSTELLING VOOR TECHNOLOGISCH ONDERZOEK N.V.participant · BE
NEDERLANDSE ORGANISATIE VOOR TOEGEPAST NATUURWETENSCHAPPELIJK ONDERZOEK TNOparticipant · NL
NICE SOLAR ENERGY GMBHparticipant · DE
ZENTRUM FUR SONNENENERGIE- UND WASSERSTOFF-FORSCHUNG BADEN-WURTTEMBERGparticipant · DE
KARLSRUHER INSTITUT FUER TECHNOLOGIEparticipant · DE
ECOLE NORMALE SUPERIEURE PARIS-SACLAYthirdparty · FR
THE AUSTRALIAN NATIONAL UNIVERSITYparticipant · AU
CENTRE NATIONAL DE LA RECHERCHE SCIENTIFIQUE CNRSparticipant · FR
SOLARONIX SAparticipant · CH
EIDGENOSSISCHE MATERIALPRUFUNGS- UND FORSCHUNGSANSTALTparticipant · CH

How to reach the team

IMEC (Interuniversitair Micro-Electronica Centrum) in Belgium coordinates this project. Contact their technology licensing or business development office.

Order a report on this consortium See INTERUNIVERSITAIR MICRO-ELECTRONICA CENTRUM profile →

Next steps

Talk to the team behind this work.

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