We all are aware of the commercially available conventional silicon solar cells, that convert sunlight into electricity. The most solar panels currently being sold in the solar market have a conversion efficiency of approximately 20 percent. This means 20 percent of the sunlight falling on the panels is converted into electricity.
The Australian National University (ANU) researchers successfully layered a perovskite solar cell on top of a silicon cell and set a world record of achieving 27.7 percent efficiency. This means solar panels would be able to produce almost double the amount of electricity, compared to conventional panels currently available.
The perovskite solar cell is developed using both organic and inorganic materials in a specially built structure that enhances the absorption of light compared to silicon solar cells which are built using only inorganic materials, limiting their range of absorption of light to red light only.
The team of researchers at the ANU in Canberra believe that layering of multiple types of solar panels, to be able to generate more power would be a turning point in the solar industry within next few years. The two layers would facilitate the absorbption of lights of different wavelengths hence maximising the amount of sunlight which can be converted into electricity.
“This demonstrates the potential of tandem solar cells. They can make better use of certain parts of the solar spectrum – for example high energy blue photons.”
“This will lead to more efficient and more cost effective solar cells and solar energy sources.”
The ANU researchers believe that tandem solar cells would have a huge impact on the global solar market when they would be first commercially available.
According to International Technology Roadmap for Photovoltaic (ITRPV) prediction, tandem solar cells would be out in the market in 2023. So, Dr The Duong – the lead researcher at ANU said “we are very close”.
The researchers at ANU are aiming to achieve above 30 percent efficiency for their new goal. They have mentioned that they will now focus on further improving the efficiency of tandem solar cells as well as the stability of the materials to make sure their commercial deployment goes seamlessly.
Though manufacturing of the solar modules does not take place in Australia, it has been a leader in solar research. It is a proud moment to realise that a new technology capable of benefitting the entire globe is being developed in canberra.
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