Oxford succeeds in developing the most efficient photovoltaic panels in the world

The Oxford PV company, from the University of Oxford, in partnership with the Fraunhofer Institute for Solar Energy Systems in Germany, has reached a significant milestone in the field of solar energy. They developed a solar panel with an impressive conversion efficiency of 25%, surpassing the performance of current commercial solar panels which typically range between 16% and 24%.

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The secret to this success lies in the innovative use of perovskite-on-silicon tándem solar cells. This technology promises theoretical efficiency that can exceed 43%, well beyond the theoretical threshold of less than 30% for conventional silicon solar cells. The Oxford PV panel has proven its effectiveness by generating 421 watts of power over an area of ​​1.68 square meters, using standard mass production equipment suitable for this new technology.

With production facilities near Berlin, Oxford PV has validated its efficiency record in the Fraunhofer Multispectral Solar Simulator, a device capable of simulating natural sunlight in the laboratory to evaluate the performance of perovskite and silicon layers.

Additionally, Oxford PV has achieved 28.6% efficiency with its commercial-sized perovskite-on-silicon tándem solar cell, and hopes to push this technology beyond 30% efficiency.

This progress marks a crucial milestone in the renewable energy sector, particularly for solar energy, which plays a major role in new sources of clean energy. By increasing efficiency, Oxford PV solar panels could transform the energy sector by delivering more power in the same physical space, resulting in cheaper electricity and an accelerated transition to clean energy.

Chris Case, Chief Technology Officer at Oxford PV, highlights the revolutionary potential of these advances, indicating that we are at the dawn of a new era in solar technology, largely driven by their innovative tándem cell. The year 2024 looks set to be pivotal for Oxford PV, with plans to expand into manufacturing and establish a new factory for large-scale production of these tándem solar cells.