The development of perovskite materials towards photovoltaic applications has revolutionized the PV R&D community in just over a decade. Whilst continued fundamental work will help drive these technologies closer to their theoretical limits, in industrial settings we are tackling the necessary challenges to bringing these once-in-a-generation materials to market. This lecture will communicate the current-status and remaining challenges for mass deployment, as well as describe how fundamental multi-disciplinary science is at the core of making the step from lab to fab.
Speakers / Authors: Olga Malinkiewicz | Saule Technologies & Ben Williams | Oxford PV
In the first part of the tutorial we will focus on the perovskite-on-Si tandem technology. In view of the presence of a lower limit to the system costs of mass-produced photovoltaics – a result of the unavoidable balance of systems costs – cost-effective tandem photovoltaics technologies present the opportunity of the 21st century to further reduce cost-per-watt, but also to reduce cost-per-area, by focusing on high energy density. In recent years, the growth of perovskite-on-Si efficiencies at R&D and full wafer scale has rocketed past Si. Traditional multi-junction tandem approaches, dependent on costly III-V semiconductors, have paved the way for high-efficiency cell design, but the perovskite-on-Si technology can replicate this at drastically lower costs, whilst utilising and complementing the ready-made infrastructure of Si photovoltaics. We will review some of the key considerations for enabling industrial manufacturing of perovskite-on-Si tandems, including: a) the challenges of rapidly scaling up from 1 cm2 R&D samples to 16,400 cm2 modules via materials and process innovation; b) the enhancement of material and device stability against environmental stresses, validating against IEC standards; c) the value of developing methods to assess stability and real-world power output; and d) how we will ensure a sustainable and abundant material supply. The section will also contain a significant sub-focus on R&D activity at Oxford PV, to give an insight as to how fundamental PV device expertise is used to help continually develop the core cell technology, and to understand how to translate R&D cell performance into full modules.
In the second part of the session, you will be introduced to Saule Technologies. You will explore the journey from laboratory research, through start-up, to the commercial production of ink-jet perovskite solar panels. The journey from laboratory prototypes to commercialised products involves significant differences in approach and execution. Lab-based research focuses on optimising efficiency and stability in single units and small areas. Commercialised perovskite solar modules undergo rigorous testing and validation, typical for existing and established solar technologies (IEC 61215:2021, IEC 61730:2016). Passing IEC standard tests requires established production processes, production facilities and extensive documentation.
Uncover the story of Dr. Olga Malinkiewicz’s perovskite solar discovery from the founder's unwavering commitment to the company's vision, the driving force behind Saule's journey from lab to fab, from a start-up to a leading player in the renewable energy sector.
