Solar Now

Adana-based WHS introduced a PV-powered water heating system that operates without an inverter, using 1.6 kW of direct DC solar input with integrated MPPT. The system supports hybrid operation with a 2 kW AC backup, runs at extra-low voltage of less than 50 V, delivers around 3 kWh/day of thermal energy, and heats water to 65–85 C for residential and small commercial use.
The DC Sunboil system
Image: pv magazine
Turkish heating solutions provider Water Heating Systems (WHS) has presented this week its DC Sunboil range of photovoltaic-powered water heating systems, targeting residential and small commercial applications at the SolarEX Istanbul trade show.
The product line is designed to operate without an inverter, directly converting solar power into heat via DC electricity. According to the company, this approach reduces both upfront investment and system complexity, while improving reliability in off-grid environments.
“The system works with four photovoltaic panels connected in parallel and runs on an extra-low voltage level, which enhances safety,” Ahmed Kılınç, R&D engineer at WHS, told pv magazine. “Typically, the system uses standard 400 W PV panels, resulting in a total installed capacity of around 1.6 kW. The system is flexible, allowing users to scale by adding more panels if needed. It is also compatible with conventional PV panels, provided they meet the required voltage level below 50 V for safe operation.”
The system connects directly to photovoltaic modules via plug-and-play connections. Each unit integrates maximum power point tracking (MPPT), enabling optimized solar energy harvesting without requiring external electronics. The system is also capable of hybrid operation, with an integrated electric heating element ensuring continuous hot water supply during low irradiance or nighttime conditions.
The DC Sunboil series is offered in five tank sizes ranging from 120 liters to 500 liters, designed to meet varying household and small commercial hot water demands. The smallest model in the range is the 120 L (WHS-120-HBB), designed for 2 to 4 users, while the largest is the 500 L (WHS-500-HBB), which can serve between 8 and 16 users. All variants operate at a maximum working pressure of 0.6 MPa and are equipped with two MPPT trackers.
In terms of electrical configuration, the systems support up to 1,200 W of PV DC input power and include an external AC backup heating element rated at up to 2,000 W. The recommended photovoltaic array size ranges from 1.6 kW to 2.4 kW, with each MPPT tracker handling between 800 W and 1,200 W. The maximum PV current per MPPT is 15.5 A, making the system compatible with typical low-voltage PV module setups.
“One of the key advantages of this system is its simplicity and efficiency,” said Kılınç. “Since it directly converts solar energy into heat, it avoids the energy losses associated with inverters and battery storage. In this sense, the water tank itself effectively acts as an energy storage unit.”
The device is primarily intended for domestic hot water production and is not used for electricity generation or grid feed-in. However, it does offer flexibility, as an AC backup option is available, allowing the system to operate during nighttime or cloudy conditions.
“The system can produce approximately 3 kWh of thermal energy per day on average, although actual performance depends on seasonal variations and sunlight availability. The water temperature is adjustable, typically ranging between 65 C and 85 C, which provides sufficient capacity for household needs,” Kılınç stated, noting that while the system itself does not incorporate battery storage, it is technically possible to integrate a battery through an external switching mechanism. However, this is not the primary design intention, as the system relies on thermal storage rather than electrical storage.
WHS is based in Adana and currently sells its products within the Turkish market. “However, we hope to expand our customer base outside Turkey,” Kılınç concluded.
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A rooftop solar PV system installed at ISOCINDU’s building envelope manufacturing plant in Silao, Guanajuato, is helping power operations while demonstrating how lightweight mounting technology can unlock solar deployment on insulated metal panel (IMP) roofs.
IMPs are widely used in industrial manufacturing facilities but can pose challenges for rooftop solar due to their lightweight structure. To address this, the project utilised a rail-less solar mounting system from S-5!, a global manufacturer specialising in attachment solutions for metal roofs.
ISOCINDU, a Mexican manufacturer of IMPs used in industrial and commercial construction, implemented the project as part of its ongoing sustainability and energy efficiency strategy, aimed at reducing carbon emissions and optimising energy consumption.
Engineered and installed by EPC contractor COREY ENERGY, the system comprises:
The system is expected to generate approximately 909,000 kWh annually, covering around 88% of the plant’s electricity demand, a significant contribution to on-site distributed generation.
The project reflects the increasing uptake of rooftop solar PV among industrial manufacturers in Mexico, as companies seek to manage electricity costs and decarbonise operations through renewable energy investments.
The solar array is mounted on the plant’s trapezoidal four-rib IMP roof using the PVKIT® rail-less system from S-5!, combined with the Protea™ Bracket. This configuration enables direct attachment to the roof panel ribs while minimising structural load.
By eliminating traditional rails, the solution reduces the overall weight of the system—an essential factor for buildings not originally designed to accommodate solar installations.
The ISOCINDU facility was initially designed to support only the roof’s structural load, with no provision for a future solar PV system. Upon evaluating the additional weight, the maintenance team determined that reinforcement would be required to ensure safe installation.
A structural engineer confirmed that a conventional rail-based PV system would exceed the roof’s load-bearing capacity. However, a rail-less mounting approach required only minimal reinforcement.
S-5!’s solution was ultimately selected for its:
According to the project team, the PVKIT rail-less system simplifies installation by reducing the number of components compared to conventional mounting structures, while maintaining secure attachment to the metal roof.
For ISOCINDU, the project demonstrates how industrial rooftop solar can be effectively integrated into existing facilities, reducing reliance on grid الكهرباء and supporting long-term decarbonisation goals.
“The ISOCINDU plant presented a unique challenge: finding a mounting system that would not add excessive weight and could adapt to the height of the ISOCOP panel profile,” said Frank Armas, Project Manager at ISOCINDU.
“After testing several mounting options, including traditional rails, the flexibility and versatility of S-5!’s system proved निर्णitive.”
Founded in 1992 by a recognised expert in metal roofing, S-5! is a leading authority in attachment solutions for metal roofs. Its non-penetrating clamps and lifetime brackets enable the installation of a wide range of rooftop applications while preserving roof integrity and warranties.
Manufactured in the United States, S-5!’s systems are deployed on more than 3 million metal roofs worldwide, including over 10 GW of installed rooftop solar capacity, offering high levels of durability and performance.
For more information, visit: es.s-5.com
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The European Union has designated 235 cross-border energy projects for accelerated permitting and funding access, prioritizing power grids, offshore wind, green hydrogen, and CO₂ transport to strengthen integration and decarbonization.
by Lucia Colaluce Keep reading
Future Energy Summit Caribbean will gather leading market players as bids triple the planned 600 MW with storage, while new BESS rules emerge and the grid faces pressure following blackouts.
by Lucia Colaluce Keep reading
Preliminary results from the EDES-LP-NGR-01-2025 tender reveal the ranking of awardable projects, with bids starting at USD 0.106/kWh and a strong dominance of solar PV. However, these have yet to be formalised amid the evaluation of a potential expansion to 605 MW, which would exceed the initially planned threshold.
by info strategicenergycorp Keep reading
The European Union has designated 235 cross-border energy projects for accelerated permitting and funding access, prioritizing power grids, offshore wind, green hydrogen, and CO₂ transport to strengthen integration and decarbonization.
by Lucia Colaluce Keep reading
Future Energy Summit Caribbean will gather leading market players as bids triple the planned 600 MW with storage, while new BESS rules emerge and the grid faces pressure following blackouts.
by Lucia Colaluce Keep reading
Preliminary results from the EDES-LP-NGR-01-2025 tender reveal the ranking of awardable projects, with bids starting at USD 0.106/kWh and a strong dominance of solar PV. However, these have yet to be formalised amid the evaluation of a potential expansion to 605 MW, which would exceed the initially planned threshold.
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“It doesn’t seem that bad in this case.”
Photo Credit: iStock
Despite the major benefits of rooftop solar panels, there remains some online confusion about whether buying a home with the technology already installed is a worthwhile investment. One person turned to Reddit for advice about a house of interest that had a solar panel lease attached to it.
The California-based prospective buyer explained that they lived in an area with some of the most expensive electricity rates in the country. The user broke down that the home they were interested in had a solar lease with a $100-per-month payment. 
The contract had 20 years remaining with a 2.9% escalator and included 14 panels. According to the buyer’s calculations, even in the 20th year of the contract, the rate for the solar lease would still be cheaper than their utility company’s electricity prices. 
However, despite the quick math, the buyer still had questions. “I’m very new with solar but am interested in the home,” the original poster wrote. “How much do I push the seller to buy out?” 
Investing in solar panels is one of the best ways to reduce your energy bills while taking control of your own power. However, it is vital to understand the difference between buying panels outright versus leasing a solar panel system to ensure you’re getting the best deal for your situation. 
For accurate information on solar panel deals in your area, consider connecting with TCD partner EnergySage. It has free tools that can help you save up to $10,000 on installation costs. 
When it comes to savings, homeowners who buy solar panels outright tend to see the biggest return on their investment, but leasing solar panels is not without its own benefits. 
When leasing, homeowners avoid the steep upfront installation costs and opt for a monthly rate instead. 
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Whatever your solar budget, Palmetto can help you save.
If you want to buy your own panels, Palmetto’s advisors can help you save up to $10,000 on installation through a network of preferred installers. And if you’d rather get solar savings without upfront costs, Palmetto’s revolutionary LightReach subscription program can deliver — including an exclusive $1,000 cashback offer for TCD readers.
LightReach lets you lease solar panels with no money down, making it painless to lock in long-term savings of up to 33% off your current power bill. Palmetto covers a 25-year warranty for the panels, which means you’ll get reliable performance without unforeseen costs.
To get started, just book a short meeting with Palmetto’s experts to explore your options and find the solution that’s right for you.
In turn, the panels themselves are owned by the third-party leasing company, but the power generated by the system goes directly toward the homeowner’s energy needs and can help reduce expensive utility costs. 
Although there was some debate in the comments about the best path forward, most users agreed that the solar panel system should not dissuade this buyer from the home. 
“If you really want the house, take the lease,” one user noted. 
Which of these savings plans for rooftop solar panels would be most appealing for you?
Save $1,000 this year 💸
Save less this year but $20k in 10 years 💰
Save less in 10 years but $80k in 20 years 🤑
Couldn’t pay me to go solar 😒
Click your choice to see results and earn rewards to spend on home upgrades.

“Normally, I’m quick to attack the idea of taking on a lease … [but] it doesn’t seem that bad in this case,” another said. 
This post stressed a few key considerations about buying a home with solar. But whether you’re entering the housing market or looking for panels for your home, upgrading to clean energy doesn’t have to be complicated. 
EnergySage can help you save up to $10,000 on installations by curating competitive bids from local installers. If you’re not ready to spend up front, Palmetto’s $0-down LightReach solar leasing program can lower your utility rate by up to 20%. 
To save even more on your monthly bills, consider pairing solar panels with highly efficient electric appliances like a heat pump HVAC. TCD partner EnergySage can help you upgrade the way you heat and cool your home with a new HVAC that fits your home and budget. 
Get TCD’s free newsletters for easy tips, smart advice, and a chance to earn $5,000 toward home upgrades. To see more stories like this one, change your Google preferences here.
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Senator filibusters against solar framework bill  waynecojournalbanner.com
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Goldman Sachs: Three Key Insights from the Middle East Energy Shock – Structural Bullish Outlook for Photovoltaics, Strengthened Coal Demand, and Pressure on Developing Countries  富途牛牛
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$118 million financing fuels new solar and battery storage project  The Business Journals
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Singapore-based renewables firm Levanta Renewables has signed an engineering, procurement and construction (EPC) contract with China Energy Engineering Group (CEEC) for a solar-plus-storage project in the Philippines.
The contract covers the entirety of the 166MWp/80MWh Barotac solar and battery energy storage system (BESS) project in the Visayas archipelago of the Philippines. Levanta first announced the project in October 2025, alongside plans to invest around US$85 million into the facility.
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Pramod Singh, CEO of Levanta Renewables, said the project “marks an important step in advancing our greenfield portfolio in the Philippines, reflecting Levanta’s end-to-end capabilities across development, financing, construction and operations.”
Guo Jizhong, chairman of CEEC, added: “Leveraging our global EPC experience and commitment to quality and safety, we will ensure the successful delivery of this project to the highest standards.”
The Philippines is aiming to generate 35% of its electricity from renewables by 2030. Last month, president Ferdinand Marcos Jr and the Department of Energy (DOE) announced plans to fast-track 1.4GW of new renewable energy projects in the country as a response to the energy price shocks of the Iran war. The DOE said it would work with the Philippines’ grid operator, electricity market operator and energy regulator to “address outstanding transmission, interconnection, inspection, registration and metering requirements”.
The government said it would plan to auction 25GW of renewable energy capacity every year until 2035, led by solar and solar-plus-storage projects.
Levanta Renewables is wholly owned by Actis, a sustainable infrastructure investment firm. In 2024, it acquired a 140MW operational solar PV portfolio in Thailand.

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Saatvik Green Energy, an Indian-based solar panel manufacturer, said that its material subsidiary, Saatvik Solar Industries Private Ltd, has received and accepted PV module supply orders worth INR 108.75 crore ($11.96 million) from leading domestic independent power producers and EPC players. The company said these contracts are commercial in nature, were awarded by domestic entities, and do not fall under related party transactions. It added that execution of the PV module supply orders is scheduled by September 2026. The report also said that Saatvik’s Odisha project is progressing as planned and is expected to increase manufacturing capacity from 4.8 GW to 8.8 GW.

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The selling prices of solar PV module technology types in Europe have continued to increase in March 2026, according to the latest report from online solar marketplace sun.store.
Its latest pv.index report highlighted a month-on-month increase of 4-6% for most module technologies monitored, with back contact (BC) even rising by 10%, the largest increase across all technologies.
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Premium-design modules and higher efficiency have led to price increases across all technologies, with tunnel oxide passivated contact (TOPCon) modules trading well above mid-2025 levels, which reflects both the growing market acceptance and ongoing technological transformation, added sun.store.
Overall, TOPCon bifacial modules have increased from €0.103/Wp (US$0.121) to €0.107/Wp, while both monofacial TOPCon and full black modules have increased to €0.114W/p. Back contact modules saw the highest growth across all technologies from €0.114/Wp to €0.118/Wp. This highlights the continued willingness from buyers to pay more for “high-performance products with attractive design”.
The only technology that has not changed prices are monofacial passivated emitter rear contact (PERC) modules, which have been stable at €0.077/Wp since September 2025, as shown in the chart below.
“The broader conclusion remains the same: PERC prices are no longer the primary driver of market direction, as demand and pricing attention continue to shift toward newer technologies,” explained sun.store.
Despite the price increase in February and March, the trend might only be temporary, according to Krzysztof Rejek, VP of sales at sun.store. Rejek added that module prices might remain around 20% above end-2025 levels in the short term, but there are growing signs that the upward trend could change starting in the second quarter of 2026.
“In Q2, price stabilisation or even a correction of several to more than ten per cent is possible,” said Rejek, adding that “The removal of export tax relief in China (effective from April 1) has a limited cost impact of around 9%.
“Instead, current price movements are driven primarily by manufacturers rebuilding margins and by advance purchasing ahead of regulatory changes. At the same time, declining prices of cells, wafers and silver, combined with still relatively weak demand, increase the likelihood of a price correction in Q2.”
The latest sun.store report also names five Chinese manufacturers as the top five brands in Europe. Trina Solar regains the top spot, after dropping to third place in February. JA Solar remains among the leading module brands, dropping from first to second in March, while Aiko closes the podium in third. LONGi and TW Solar also ranked in the top five for last month.
If prices of modules have increased for the past two months, inverters, on the other hand, have remained quite stable. Hybrid inverter prices declined slightly, by 1-2%, in March, while on-grid inverters saw small increases of 1-2%.
The continued demand for storage-compatible systems continues to provide a structural support for hybrid inverters, despite competition intensifying, according to sun.store.
“In the on-grid segment, prices rose slightly in both categories. This suggests that the earlier correction phase may have largely ended, particularly in residential and commercial applications. Overall, grid-connected inverter prices remain disciplined, with no signs of significant downward pressure,” added sun.store.
Unlike for modules, the top brands for inverters have remained mostly unchanged with Deye still the leading company for hybrid inverters, while Huawei retains the top spot for string inverters.
Finally, sun.store’s general index for buyers’ appetite remains positive, with nearly half of respondents saying they expect to increase their purchases in the future.
Leaders in the European solar sector are turning their attention to this year’s SolarPlus Europe event, to be held in Italy on 15-16 April by PV Tech publisher Solar Media. Information about the event, including the full agenda and options to purchase tickets are available on the official website.

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Jupiter International and AMPIN Energy Transition have inaugurated an integrated solar cell and module manufacturing facility in Bhubaneswar, Odisha, set up through their joint venture AMPIN Solar One. The facility was inaugurated by the chief minister of Odisha, Mohan Charan Majhi.
Odisha chief minister Mohan Charan Majhi inaugurates Jupiter International–AMPIN’s integrated solar cell and module manufacturing facility in Bhubaneswar
Jupiter/AMPIN
Jupiter International and AMPIN Energy Transition have inaugurated an integrated solar cell and module manufacturing facility in Bhubaneswar, Odisha, set up through their joint venture AMPIN Solar One. The facility was inaugurated by the chief minister of Odisha, Mohan Charan Majhi.
The facility, with a capacity of 1.3 GW per annum, is set up under the government’s production-linked incentive scheme. The modules produced through the alliance will be consumed locally by AMPIN and supplied to third-party developers.
“The inauguration of the manufacturing facility of AMPIN Solar One Private Limited is a significant step aimed towards building a stronger domestic manufacturing backbone for India’s energy transition,” said Alok Garodia, CMD Jupiter International Ltd. “This platform brings together scale, manufacturing depth and quality-focused execution, so as to enable the reliable supply of high-performance cells and modules from within the country. We are proud to partner with AMPIN and the Government of Odisha in advancing clean energy ambitions”
 
 
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The end of China’s export tax rebates for solar panels and associated equipment could prompt a rush by power developers in African to secure supplies at the previous lower prices.
Across Africa, a lack of reliable access to grid electricity is driving the adoption of mini-grids and off-grid solar applications, especially in rural areas. Solar currently accounts for only 3% of electricity generation on the continent, but solar capacity is expanding rapidly, and the end of the 9% value-added tax rebate on Chinese exports of photovoltaic modules, cells and inverters as of April 1 could hasten adoption across Africa.
“There’s a big acceleration of people trying to buy panels at the current reduced price with the rebate, which is why you’re seeing many projects rushing to start construction so they can procure panels at a lower cost,” Gerrit Jan Cronselaar, engineering project manager at GameChange Solar, a U.S.-based solar energy company, said at a March webinar organized by the Africa Solar Industry Association (AFSIA), ahead of the end of the rebate.
“Over the course of 2026, we are likely to see a wave of projects coming online as a result of this early push.”
China is the world’s dominant producer and exporter of solar panels, and African countries depend heavily on the country for solar components. China is also phasing out export tax rebates for batteries, reducing them from 9% to 6% this month. They will be fully eliminated by January 2027. Storage systems including batteries ensure a more reliable supply of solar power so electricity is available even after sunset or on cloudy days.
“We don’t expect there to be a massive price spike,” Cronselaar said. “We expect there to be a step-by-step increase in panel prices that is not as catastrophic as some people might think, certainly not for utility-scale projects.”
Ha added that the segments most affected by the end of the rebate will be smaller commercial and industrial users, “as well as the off-grid and mini-grid sectors, where price sensitivity is much higher.”
Another factor that could boost demand for solar is the U.S.-Israeli war on Iran, which has throttled oil and gas exports from the Persian Gulf and driven up global energy prices. Facing an oil shock, some experts say African countries might view solar as a more attractive alternative despite the increased upfront costs.
“The VAT removal will slow, but not reverse Africa’s clean energy transition,” Basil Abia, co-founder of Nigerian energy research company Truva Intelligence told the Associated Press.
The increased cost of solar installations is bringing renewed scrutiny to global dependence on China for critical components and has spurred calls for other countries to increase their domestic manufacturing capacity.
“Countries that use this moment to accelerate local manufacturing will emerge stronger. Those that do not will remain exposed to Beijing’s next industrial policy adjustment,” Abia said.
Banner Image: A solar installation in Mali. Image ©Curt Carnemark/World Bank via Flickr (CC BY-NC-ND 2.0).
Water has shaped the identity, livelihoods and governance of the Yaqui Indigenous people in northern Mexico for centuries. Today, the Yaqui River faces mounting pressure as drought intensifies, pollution persists and water is increasingly diverted to agriculture and cities. In this award-winning series, staff writer Aimee Gabay explores how climate change is sharpening long-standing disputes […]
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Why Investing in Wind and Solar to Avoid Gas Shocks Hasn’t Added Up for Some  The New York Times
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The Abu Dhabi-based intergovernmental renewable energy agency IRENA said Tunisia added 120 MW of renewable energy capacity in 2025, lifting total installed renewable energy capacity to 1,206 MW. The agency also said PV represented 100% of the country’s new renewable capacity additions during the year. Tunisia’s installed PV capacity moved up from 775 MW to 895 MW, making it the only renewable segment to post growth. By comparison, onshore wind capacity remained at 245 MW in 2025, while hydropower capacity stayed at 66 MW during the same period. IRENA further said Tunisia’s renewable energy share increased from 8.2% of installed capacity in 2024 to 16.6% in 2025. These statistics were published in its Renewable Capacity Statistics 2026 report.

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The TOPCon solar cells fabricated with screen-printed, fire-through copper rear contacts and silver front contacts, using laser-enhanced contact optimization (LECO) to significantly reduce contact resistivity. Optimized copper cells achieved 24.3% efficiency, comparable to Ag-contacted cells, with excellent stability.
Image: Georgia Institute of Technology, Solar Energy Materials and Solar Cells, CC BY 4.0
From pv magazine Global
A research team in the United States has fabricated TOPCon solar cells with screen-printed, fire-through copper (Cu) contact on the rear side and a silver (Ag) contacted boron emitter on the front side through the laser-enhanced contact optimization (LECO) process.
The LECO process consists of using a highly intense laser pulse on the front side of the solar cell at a constant reverse voltage of more than 10 V, with the resulting current flow of several amperes considerably reducing the contact resistivity between semiconductor and metal electrode.
“In this work, we demonstrate that LECO treatment is very effective in enabling screen-printed, fire-through Cu contacts to n-TOPCon on the rear side of a TOPCon cell,” the scientists explained. “We used a unique screen-printable, fire-through Cu paste from Bert Thin Films, Inc. (BTF) which helps in inhibiting Cu diffusion by forming a thin Cu-oxide around the Cu particles.”
Bert Thin Films launched its new copper paste in February, as reported by pv magazine. According to the manufacturer, the new paste can be screen printed and fired in air, and can also be co-fired with commercial silver pastes for frontside metallization.
The cells were fabricated using standard 242.32 cm² n-type wafers that underwent saw damage etching, surface texturing, and cleaning. TOPCon precursors were formed with a boron-diffused emitter passivated by an aluminum oxide/silicon nitride (Al₂O₃/SiNx) layer on the front side, and a full-area TOPCon stack on the rear. Ag paste was screen-printed on the front with 135 gridlines and fired at 700 C. Cu paste was then applied to the rear and fired at a lower temperature of 500–600 C to prevent copper migration.
“All the tools and processes we used in this study are already in use in the PV industry,” corresponding author Young Woo Ok told pv magazine. “It only requires replacing the Ag paste with the Cu paste. The process can be a plug-and-play alternative to Ag contacts in production.”
The LECO treatment was performed with varying reverse bias voltages to improve cell performance. Fully silver-contacted cells were fabricated as references. Electrical properties, including metal-induced recombination current density and contact resistivity, were characterized using the transfer length method (TLM) and electroluminescence (EL) imaging.
The researchers systematically optimized Cu printing and firing parameters, including screen design, firing temperature, belt speed, and LECO settings. Cells fired at 500–550 C were found to achieved stable open-circuit voltage and pseudo-fill factor up to 530 C, with degradation occurring at higher temperatures due to copper diffusion into the tunnel oxide. Moreover, short-circuit current density slightly was found to decrease at higher temperatures, while fill factor peaked around 530–535 C due to reduced series resistance (Rs). EL imaging confirmed improved contact quality with firing at 535 C, eliminating dark areas caused by poor contacts.
The LECO treatment was optimized for cells fired at 530 C, with reverse bias voltages of 17–19 V providing the best balance between series resistant (Rs) and pseudo fill factor. Contact resistivity decreased from around 300 mΩ·cm² to around 10 mΩ·cm² after LECO, indicating enhanced rear Cu contacts, while laser power had minimal effect. Microstructural analysis showed increased Cu colloids and crystallites confined to the poly-Si layer, improving contact properties without degrading pseudo fill factor and open-circuit voltage.
Comparisons with Ag-contacted cells revealed that the Cu-contacted cells achieved comparable open-circuit voltage and pseudo fill factor, with slightly lower short-circuit current and fill factor. Optimized Cu cells reached 24.3% efficiency, only 0.2–0.3% below Ag-contacted cells. Contact resistivity for Cu was higher than Ag, but could be mitigated by increasing rear contact coverage. Stability tests under thermal stress at 200 C in nitrogen also showed negligible changes in open-circuit voltage and pseudo fill factor over 1000 hours, which reportedly demonstrated Cu contact reliability.
“Such high efficiency screen printed Cu contacted n-TOPCon cells provide unique opportunity to replace very expensive Ag contact on n-TOPCon with cheaper screen printable Cu metal pastes,” the scientists emphasized.
The novel cell concept was presented in “>24% screen printed Cu contacted n-TOPCon solar cells with successful implementation of LECO process,” published in Solar Energy Materials and Solar Cells. The research team included academics from the US Department of Energy’s National Laboratory of the Rockies, the Georgia Institute of Technology, and US-based copper paste specialist Bert Thin Films Inc.
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Lead-halide perovskites, even when packed with impurities and structural flaws, are remarkably effective at turning sunlight into electricity. Their performance is now approaching that of silicon-based solar cells, which have long dominated the industry. In a recent study published in Nature Communications, researchers at the Institute of Science and Technology Austria (ISTA) present a detailed explanation for this unexpected efficiency, solving a mystery that has puzzled scientists for years.
It raises an obvious question: how can a relatively simple, low-cost material compete with highly refined silicon technology developed over decades? Over the past 15 years, lead-halide perovskites have emerged as promising candidates for next-generation solar cells. Unlike silicon, which requires ultra-pure single-crystal wafers, these materials can be produced using inexpensive solution-based methods while delivering comparable performance.
Researchers Dmytro Rak and Zhanybek Alpichshev at ISTA have now identified the underlying mechanism behind these unusual properties. Their findings reveal a surprising contrast with traditional solar technology. Silicon depends on near-perfect purity to function efficiently, but perovskites benefit from their imperfections. According to the team, a naturally occurring network of structural defects allows electrical charges to travel long distances through the material, which is essential for efficient energy conversion. "Our work provides the first physical explanation of these materials while accounting for most-if not all-of their documented properties," says Rak. This insight could help move perovskite solar cells closer to widespread real-world use.
From Overlooked Materials to Solar Breakthroughs
The term "lead-halide perovskites" refers to a group of compounds first identified in the 1970s. They were named for their structural resemblance to perovskites, a broader class of oxide materials widely studied in materials science. Aside from their ability to form stable hybrid organic-inorganic crystals, they initially attracted little attention and were largely set aside after basic characterization.
That changed in the early 2010s, when researchers discovered their impressive ability to convert light into electricity. Since then, perovskites have also shown promise in LEDs, as well as X-ray detection and imaging technologies. "In addition, these materials exhibit astounding quantum properties, such as quantum coherence at room temperature," explains Alpichshev, whose research group studies complex phenomena in advanced materials.
How Solar Cells Generate and Transport Charge
For any solar cell to work efficiently, it must absorb sunlight and convert it into electrical charges. This process produces negatively charged electrons and positively charged "holes." These charges then need to travel through the material and reach the electrodes to generate usable electricity.
This journey is not simple. Charges must move across distances of hundreds of microns, which would correspond to hundreds of kilometers on a human scale, without becoming trapped or lost along the way.
In silicon-based solar cells, this challenge is addressed by eliminating defects that could capture charges before they reach the electrodes. Perovskites, however, are created using solution-based methods and naturally contain many defects. This makes their strong performance even more surprising. How can charges move efficiently through such a flawed material, and why do they remain separated long enough to do so?
Discovering Hidden Forces Inside Perovskites
One known property of perovskites adds to the puzzle. When electrons and holes form a bound pair called an exciton, they tend to recombine quickly. Yet experiments show that these charges often remain separated for extended periods within the material.
To explain this contradiction, the ISTA team proposed that internal forces within perovskites actively pull electrons and holes apart, preventing recombination. To test this idea, they used nonlinear optical techniques to inject charges deep inside the material. Each time they introduced electrons and holes, they observed a consistent electrical current flowing in the same direction, even without applying any external voltage. "This observation clearly indicated that even deep inside single crystals of unmodified, as-grown perovskites, there are internal forces that separate opposite charges," says Alpichshev.
Earlier studies had suggested that such behavior should not occur based on the material’s crystal structure. To resolve this discrepancy, the researchers proposed that charge separation is not uniform. Instead, it occurs at specific regions known as "domain walls," where the structure of the material is slightly altered. These domain walls form interconnected networks throughout the material.
Visualizing Domain Walls With Silver Ions
Confirming the existence of these networks presented a major challenge. Most measurement techniques only probe the surface of a material, while the domain walls exist deep inside.
To overcome this limitation, Rak developed a new approach inspired by his background in chemistry. Since perovskites can conduct ions, he explored whether certain ions could act as markers to reveal internal structures. He introduced silver ions into the material, which naturally migrated and accumulated along the domain walls. These ions were then converted into metallic silver, making the network visible under a microscope.
"This qualitative technique, invented and implemented at ISTA, is much like angiography in living tissues — except that we are examining the micro-structure of a crystal," says Alpichshev.
Charge "Highways" Enable Efficient Energy Flow
The discovery of a dense network of domain walls throughout perovskites proved to be a turning point. These structures act as pathways that guide electrical charges through the material.
As Rak explains, "If an electron-hole pair is created near a domain wall, the local electric field pulls the electron and the hole apart, placing them on opposite sides of the wall. Unable to recombine immediately, they can drift along the domain walls for what seems like eons on a charge carrier’s timescale and travel long distances." In effect, these domain walls function as "highways for charge carriers," allowing charges to move efficiently and contribute to electricity generation.
A Complete Explanation and a Path Forward
The researchers emphasize that their work provides a unified explanation for the behavior of perovskites. "With this comprehensive picture, we are finally able to reconcile many previously conflicting observations about lead-halide perovskites, resolving a long-standing debate about the source of their superior energy-harvesting efficiency," says Rak.
Until now, most efforts to improve perovskite solar cells have focused on adjusting their chemical composition, with limited progress. This new understanding opens the door to engineering their internal structure instead, potentially increasing efficiency without sacrificing their low-cost production advantages. The findings could play a key role in bringing next-generation solar technology from the lab into widespread use.
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Credits: Zhao Chen, The Pulse internal edition
A new study has found that birds are being affected by solar panels in unexpected ways.
For the most part, the expansion of the solar panels subsector has benefited mankind and the world as a whole. However, a recent study has found that solar panels are being mistaken for lakes by some bird species, creating yet another issue for the energy industry to fix.
How have solar panels disrupted migration patterns for birds?
Migration patterns of birds are more than just an internal GPS system.
Many birds possess what is essentially a “magnetic compass” in their eyes. A specific protein in some birds’ eyes reacts to blue light, which creates a chemical reaction that is sensitive to magnetic fields.
This enables the birds in question to “see” the Earth’s magnetic field as a visual overlay.
Other species of birds have tiny crystals of magnetite, a magnetic mineral, that acts like a GPS in their beaks. Most bird species have an innate map in their genetics that plots a migration path for them, even without any other birds leading the way.
We have come to understand that not all that glitters is gold.
The shining light of the green energy transition has recently been overshadowed by the new impact that the sector has had on our planet. Our collective progression as a society has resulted in the climate crisis we currently face.
But we are not the only ones being affected by the renewable energy revolution.
Most of the impact of the clean energy transition has been positive, such as the recent discovery that solar panel farms are unexpectedly creating near-perfect conditions for plant life to thrive around them.
But what effect are solar panel farms having on animal life around the world?
New types of solar panels are emerging as nations aim to wave a not-so-fond farewell to the oil industry. Such as a new type of solar cell that can be applied to curved surfaces.
The solar panel subsector now dominates the global renewable energy market.
However, a team from Murdoch University has detailed the latest issue emerging from solar panel farms that are wreaking havoc on some bird species around the world.
With the climate crisis becoming an international issue that affects millions, more and more nations are turning to the potential of the renewable energy sector.
The United Kingdom recently saw record energy generation thanks to its adoption of the wind power sector. But even that subsector has experienced a wide range of issues in recent years.
But the overwhelming and undisputed king of the clean energy transition is, without a doubt, solar power.
We have come to understand how weather affects solar panels, but what unexpected effects are solar panel farms having on the animals that we share our only home in the universe with?
Researchers from Murdoch University have found that birds are mistaking huge solar panel arrays for lakes.
Murdoch University’s Professor Trish Fleming led a study that found these solar panels are attracting aquatic insects, forcing the birds that feed on them to land on solar panels that they confuse with bodies of water.
This confusion of migrating birds led Prof. Fleming to extrapolate that a potential 17.3 million annual avian fatalities would occur if the industry grows without mitigation.
The study has suggested several measures that could address this issue, like anti-reflective nano-coatings and wildlife-friendly fencing around solar panel farms, but no concrete solution has been found as of yet.
© 2026 by Ecoportal
© 2026 by Ecoportal

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“Hopefully other companies follow.”
Photo Credit: iStock
BYD’s latest electric vehicle, the Song Ultra EV, is off to a strong start in China, leveraging the brand’s rapid-charging capabilities.
Electrek reported that the vehicle secured 21,586 reservations within just 20 days during the pre-order period, which began March 6. The first week on the market saw a further 10,000 orders, and total orders exceeded 37,000 by April 2.
Much of the success is attributed to the innovative second-generation Blade battery, which can charge the vehicle from 10% to 70% in a mere five minutes. The battery boasts strong performance in sub-zero temperatures and doesn’t slow to a crawl to reach a near-full charge, either.
CarFans’ third-party research indicated that while the Song Ultra EV starts at 151,900 yuan ($22,000), 70% of buyers are paying extra for a higher-range model featuring up to 710 km (440 miles) of range, Electrek reported. The lower range trims offer around 65 miles.
Nearly half of buyers are opting for pricier trims with BYD’s God’s Eye B navigation tech.
The Song Ultra EV also generated increased traffic to BYD’s stores in China with a 40% rise in consumers in the three days after its release.
The vehicle fits firmly into BYD’s niche of offering drivers EVs with cutting-edge charging tech at low prices. It’s part of why the brand has surpassed Tesla as the global leader in EVs.
Faster charging and improving tech can help spur the electrification of transportation, which is making a big dent in global pollution. Over their lifespan, EVs are better for the planet than their gas-powered counterparts.
They also offer fuel and maintenance savings that can be heightened even more with moves like installing at-home charging. For homeowners interested in adding Level 2 EV chargers to their homes, Qmerit provides free installation estimates that can lead to hundreds of dollars in savings over public charging.
Powering those chargers with solar panels can sweeten the pot even more by reducing reliance on the grid and shielding you from public charging prices. TCD’s solar partner EnergySage can help connect you with vetted installers and allow you to save up to $10,000 on installations by compiling competitive bids.
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A commenter on Electrek praised BYD’s latest release.
“BYD putting their latest and greatest tech on everything seems very much like the tech world they come from,” they wrote. “Hopefully other companies follow.”
Get TCD’s free newsletters for easy tips, smart advice, and a chance to earn $5,000 toward home upgrades. To see more stories like this one, change your Google preferences here.
© 2025 THE COOL DOWN COMPANY. All Rights Reserved. Do not sell or share my personal information. Reach us at hello@thecooldown.com.

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In the first quarter of 2026, Elon Musk frequently appeared in the vision of China’s photovoltaic industry chain and became a key variable in the transformation of China’s photovoltaic industry.
In February this year, Musk’s team intensively visited several Chinese photovoltaic enterprises. He was looking at the entire industrial chain – from equipment, silicon wafers to battery components, and paid special attention to next-generation high-efficiency photovoltaic technologies including perovskite. These series of actions are regarded by the outside world as an important signal of his accelerated layout in the direction of energy and space infrastructure.
Although Musk himself has not publicly and explicitly bet on perovskite, from the perspective of his long-term layout, this technology is highly consistent with the core strategy of his space blueprint.
Compared with crystalline silicon cells, perovskite has higher efficiency, can still generate electricity under low-light conditions, has a short production process, and low production costs. At the same time, perovskite has the potential for lightweight and flexibility. It can even be stored in a curled form during launch and then unfolded for use after reaching orbit, significantly reducing the launch volume and payload weight, which gives it unique advantages in space photovoltaic scenarios. Currently, perovskite has been regarded by the industry as one of the core routes for next-generation photovoltaics.
For this reason, the competition around perovskite has long gone beyond simple technological competition and evolved into a national-level game concerning industrial discourse power.
In this international competition, Japan had the earliest layout in the perovskite field. In the early research stage of perovskite solar cells, Japan was at the global forefront, but was overtaken by China. When the competition shifted from the laboratory to the factory and from R & D to mass production, China, with its complete supply chain and cost advantages, has become the leader in the perovskite field.
According to the prediction of analysts from Zhongshang Industry Research Institute, the penetration rate of perovskite in China will be about 0.5% in 2024 and is expected to soar to 30% in 2030. The China Photovoltaic Industry Association (CPIA) predicts that the total global production capacity of perovskite cells will grow at an annual compound growth rate of about 140% and reach 461GW by 2030, with China accounting for the vast majority.
Feng Fan, the founder of Yanhe Technology, a perovskite enterprise, said: “Currently, the global perovskite photovoltaic industry presents a pattern where China leads comprehensively and Europe, the United States, and Japan pursue with differentiation. China has become the global center for perovskite equipment, R & D, manufacturing, and innovation, with relevant patents accounting for more than 75% of the world. Although Europe, the United States, and Japan have accumulations in niche fields such as basic research and flexible applications, their industrialization speed, production capacity scale, and cost competitiveness are far behind China.”
In the competition around perovskite, every technological breakthrough and industrial action may change the story of the future global energy pattern.

The starting point of this game dates back to an ore discovered a century ago.
In 1839, German mineralogist Gustav Rose discovered an oxide with a strange crystal structure in the rocks of the Ural Mountains in Russia. Since the first discovered compound was a calcium titanate compound, this material is also collectively referred to as “perovskite.”
In 2009, a research team from Toin Yokohama University in Japan introduced perovskite-structured materials to replace traditional dyes as the light-absorbing layer in solar cell research, initiating the exploration of perovskite materials in the photovoltaic field.
Ryuji Miyasaka selected an organic-inorganic hybrid perovskite material to replace the dye in traditional dye-sensitized solar cells as a new photosensitizer. The experimental results showed that the photoelectric conversion efficiency reached 3.8%. Miyasaka published the experimental content in the Journal of the American Chemical Society (JACS), becoming the first paper in an academic journal to systematically and publicly discuss the research on perovskite solar cells.
However, this battery only remained stable for a few minutes and then quickly disappeared. The liquid electrolyte dissolved and decomposed the perovskite light-absorbing layer, and the efficiency quickly dropped to zero. The world’s first perovskite solar cell ended on the day of its birth.
The failure of this experiment was mainly due to the incompatibility between the physical and chemical properties of the liquid electrolyte and perovskite. This also made later researchers gradually realize that to achieve high efficiency and long service life, the liquid must be replaced with a more stable solid material to conduct charges.
In the following years, Japan was gradually overtaken by other countries on the “podium” of the perovskite efficiency competition.
In 2011, the research group led by Nam-Gyu Park from Sungkyunkwan University in South Korea improved the efficiency to 6.5% through technological innovation. However, the fatal defect of the liquid electrolyte still persisted, and the battery collapsed within a few minutes.
The real breakthrough occurred in 2012. The team led by Nam-Gyu Park collaborated with the team led by Professor Michael Grätzel from the Swiss Federal Institute of Technology in Lausanne to produce the world’s first all-solid-state perovskite solar cell using the solid hole transport material spiro‑OMeTAD, with an efficiency approaching 10%.
In the same year, the team led by Henry Snaith from the University of Oxford in the UK also independently achieved a similar breakthrough. By introducing the solid hole transport material Spiro-OMeTAD, they effectively avoided the damage of the perovskite layer by the liquid electrolyte and improved the stability of the device.
Both teams crossed this threshold in the same year. Compared with the previous liquid systems that could only last for a few minutes, the stability of this generation of devices was greatly improved, and they could maintain performance for a longer time.
After that, the efficiency of perovskite cells was significantly improved. In 2021, the Ulsan National Institute of Science and Technology in South Korea pushed the efficiency of single-junction perovskite cells to 25.8%, setting a new world record at that time.
While South Korea, the UK, and other countries were catching up, Japanese companies focused on the stability and safety of materials. Companies such as Sekisui Chemical and Panasonic bet on the directions of stability and lead-free materials, trying to establish a differentiated barrier in terms of material safety and long service life. The logic behind this is that stability remains the most difficult challenge for the industrialization of perovskite.
03 China Enters the Game and Reverses the Situation
Since 2013, perovskite solar cells have quickly become a global scientific research hotspot. Perovskite cells were selected as one of the “Top Ten Breakthroughs” by the journal Science and are regarded as the most promising next-generation photovoltaic technology.
In China, many top universities and research institutions, including the Chinese Academy of Sciences, Nanjing University, Peking University, Huazhong University of Science and Technology, and Zhejiang University, have successively listed perovskite as a key research material direction.
The speed of this catch-up demonstrates the characteristic of China’s industry “overtaking the early starters.”
Around 2018, domestic researchers improved the battery efficiency to over 23% through key technologies, setting a new world record, which was included by the National Renewable Energy Laboratory (NREL) in the United States.
After that, multiple technical routes advanced simultaneously: the efficiency of the tandem structure continued to break through, gradually increasing from about 24% to over 28%; at the same time, key links such as material preparation and device stability also made continuous progress.
While scientific research continued to advance, China turned to its most proficient battlefield: large-scale industrialization.
In 2015, Yao Jizhong, an alumnus of Zhejiang University, received funding from the Asia-Pacific Environment and Energy Cooperation Organization during his undergraduate studies and went to the University of New South Wales in Australia to study under Professor Martin Green, known as the “Father of Photovoltaics.” After returning to China, he co-founded Xinneng Photovoltaic with his classmates in Hangzhou Future Science and Technology City, becoming one of the earliest Chinese enterprises to layout perovskite industrialization. “After verification, perovskite is the best photovoltaic material I’ve ever seen,” Yao Jizhong said.
After that, start-up companies such as GCL Photovoltaic, Jidian Optoelectronics, Renshuo Optoelectronics, and Dazheng Micro-Nano emerged one after another and received a large amount of venture capital.
In 2021, GCL Photovoltaic built the world’s first 100MW mass production line with a module size of 1m×2m and an efficiency of over 18%. The enterprises moved what could only be done in the laboratory to the factory workshop.
From 2022 to the present, the entry of industrial giants has changed the scale of this competition. Industry giants such as CATL, LONGi Green Energy, Trina Solar, JinkoSolar, and Tongwei have successively announced their layouts in perovskite or perovskite/crystalline silicon tandem. The GW-scale production lines of some enterprises have been put into operation or are in the construction stage. The participation of these enterprises brings not only capital but also a complete supply chain management system, channel resources, and mass production engineering capabilities.
Yang Runsi, an analyst from Guosheng Securities, pointed out that 2025 is the “Year of Mass Production” for perovskite at the GW level, and the perovskite field will enter a period of explosive production capacity in the next two years. Guosheng Securities predicts that the global production capacity will exceed 5GW in 2027 and break through 30GW in 2030.
In March 2026, Yu Zhenrui, the co-founder and president of Jidian Optoelectronics, said at a forum on perovskite that perovskite photovoltaic technology has crossed the threshold from the laboratory to the production line and officially entered a new development stage of industrial collaborative improvement.
Japan, which was the first to layout in the perovskite field, has also started to place heavy bets at the national level.
In November 2024, the Ministry of Economy, Trade and Industry (METI) of Japan released the “Next-Generation Solar Cell Strategy,” aiming to achieve a perovskite installed capacity of 20GW by 2040. Three giants, Toyota, Sekisui Chemical, and Toshiba, formed a consortium to jointly tackle mass production technologies. To promote the implementation of this strategy, the Japanese government provided a special subsidy of 157 billion yen (equivalent to about 7.47 billion yuan at that time) to the core enterprise Sekisui Chemical, which is one of Japan’s largest fiscal bets on a single new energy technology in recent years.
It is worth mentioning that this strategic document also directly mentioned Japan’s “historical complex”: Japan accounted for about 50% of the global photovoltaic market around 2000, but since 2005, due to overseas competition – especially from China, manufacturers in Japan, the United States, and Germany lost their market shares simultaneously. Now, Japan’s share in the global market has dropped to less than 1%.

The Ministry of Economy, Trade and Industry (METI) of Japan released the “Next-Generation Solar Cell Strategy.”
Since Prime Minister Sanae Takaichi took office in 2025, she has included perovskite solar cells and nuclear power in the national energy strategy. A series of actions, including billion-yuan subsidies, mass production R & D, and supply chain localization, have been successively implemented.
This is not only Japan’s increased bet on the new technology route but also a reflection on the loss of the photovoltaic market in the past.
A senior person in the photovoltaic industry said: “Japan’s bet on flexible perovskite and the independent control of iodine resources is a differentiated route, which is logically valid. However, its mass production rhythm is several years slower than that of China, and there is an obvious gap between the cost target and the actual prediction of enterprises. Whether this route can succeed depends on whether the flexible market can open up enough space and whether technical and supply chain barriers can be established.”
Currently, the development of perovskite solar cells can be divided into three main technical tracks: single-junction perovskite cells, perovskite/crystalline silicon tandem cells, and all-perovskite tandem cells, each with its own technical logic and application prospects.
Single-junction perovskite cells only use the perovskite light-absorbing layer, with the simplest structure and the lowest cost. In 2025, the collaborative team of Peng Jun and Zhang Xiaohong from Soochow University pushed the certified efficiency to 27.3%, and the team from Hainan University followed closely with 27.32%, setting a new world record.
Perovskite/crystalline silicon tandem cells stack a perovskite layer on crystalline silicon. The two absorb light in different wavelength bands and are compatible with existing crystalline silicon production lines. Currently, LONGi Green Energy has pushed the efficiency of small-area cells to 34.85% (certified by NREL), and that of large-area cells to 33%. Trina Solar’s small-area tandem cells have an efficiency of 35%, and the large-area tandem module has an efficiency of 30.6% and a module power of 886W.
All-perovskite tandem cells do not use crystalline silicon at all. They use two layers of perovskite with different band gaps to achieve divided light absorption, with the greatest cost potential but high technical difficulty. The stability of materials remains a challenge. In March 2025, Guangyin Technology, in cooperation with Shanghai Jiao Tong University, pushed the efficiency of all-perovskite tandem cells to 31.27%.
The three tracks correspond to three “future bets”: the single-junction bets on whether the material can independently replace crystalline silicon, the tandem bets on whether perovskite can extend the life of crystalline silicon, and the all-perovskite tandem bets on whether photovoltaics can completely bid farewell to the silicon era.
Looking at the progress in other countries.
Japan held the world record in the early stage of perovskite development and in the field of large-size modules (before 2023), but has been overtaken by other countries in recent years. Currently, Japan focuses on the directions of flexibility, stability, and mass production processes.
South Korea used to lead the single-junction perovskite efficiency competition for a long time. The Ulsan National Institute of Science and Technology set a world record of 25.8% in 2021. However, with the breakthroughs of Chinese and European teams in tandem cells and industrialization, the global leading pattern has gradually shifted.
In Europe, Oxford PV in the UK built a 100MW perovskite tandem cell production line in Germany around 2021 and completed the world’s first commercial sales of perovskite tandem modules in September 2024, with a commercial module efficiency of 24.5%. The Helmholtz Center (HZB) in Germany led with a tandem efficiency of 32.5% in 2022, but this record has also been refreshed by China (LONGi Green Energy).
In the United States, in July 2025, the perovskite sub-module certified efficiency of the cooperation between the National Renewable Energy Laboratory (NREL) and the solar innovation enterprise CubicPV invested by Bill Gates reached 24.0%, setting a record for the United States in this category for the first time, but the industrialization is still in the early stage.
Generally speaking, China holds the world records in all three main tracks of single-junction, crystalline silicon tandem, and all-perovskite tandem. South Korea used to lead in the single-junction field for a long time but has been overtaken. Europe has a first-mover advantage in tandem commercialization but has fallen behind in efficiency records. The leader in this global relay race has clearly shifted from South Korea and Europe in 2012 to China.

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