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German researchers have set a new efficiency record for a tandem solar cell that combines a perovskite top layer with a copper indium gallium selenide (CIGS) thin-film bottom layer. According to a report from pv-tech.org, scientists at the Helmholtz-Zentrum Berlin (HZB) and Humboldt-Universitat achieved a power conversion efficiency of 25.5 percent.
This milestone was certified by the European Solar Test Installation (ESTI) and recorded in the latest edition of the Solar cell efficiency tables, a definitive reference published by the University of New South Wales. The work was conducted under the SOLMATES project, an EU-funded initiative led by HZB that focuses on integrating CIGS and perovskite technologies. HZB noted that its previous record under this project was 24.6 percent.
To surpass that earlier mark, the researchers used CIGSe-bottom cells with different band gaps of 1.05 eV and 1.1 eV, along with two different thicknesses of aluminium-doped zinc oxides that had similar characteristics. They also tested various cell architectures, building on continuous improvements from their prior record. To reduce interfacial recombination losses and improve device stability, the team screened multiple combinations of nickel oxide (NiOx) and self-assembled monolayers (SAMs) as hole transport layers. They refined the electron-selective contact processing by regulating the initial thermal evaporation rate of Buckminsterfullerene (C60) onto an ultra-thin, 1 nm lithium fluoride passivation layer.
The record cell had a small area of 1.081 cm². The SOLMATES researchers also fabricated a mini-module with a similar stack of materials, achieving about 19.7 percent efficiency over an area of 2.25 cm². HZB researcher Guillermo Farias Basulto commented that the physics of the current cell architecture suggests the 25.5 percent figure is only a stepping stone, as in-house testing of similar architectures has already reached efficiencies of 27.5 percent.
Interactive table based on the Store Companies dataset for this report.
This report provides a comprehensive view of the solar cells and light-emitting diodes industry in Germany, tracking demand, supply, and trade flows across the national value chain. It explains how demand across key channels and end-use segments shapes consumption patterns, while also mapping the role of input availability, production efficiency, and regulatory standards on supply.
Beyond headline metrics, the study benchmarks prices, margins, and trade routes so you can see where value is created and how it moves between domestic suppliers and international partners. The analysis is designed to support strategic planning, market entry, portfolio prioritization, and risk management in the solar cells and light-emitting diodes landscape in Germany.
The report combines market sizing with trade intelligence and price analytics for Germany. It covers both historical performance and the forward outlook to 2035, allowing you to compare cycles, structural shifts, and policy impacts.
This report provides a consistent view of market size, trade balance, prices, and per-capita indicators for Germany. The profile highlights demand structure and trade position, enabling benchmarking against regional and global peers.
The analysis is built on a multi-source framework that combines official statistics, trade records, company disclosures, and expert validation. Data are standardized, reconciled, and cross-checked to ensure consistency across time series.
All data are normalized to a common product definition and mapped to a consistent set of codes. This ensures that comparisons across time are aligned and actionable.
The forecast horizon extends to 2035 and is based on a structured model that links solar cells and light-emitting diodes demand and supply to macroeconomic indicators, trade patterns, and sector-specific drivers. The model captures both cyclical and structural factors and reflects known policy and technology shifts in Germany.
Each projection is built from national historical patterns and the broader regional context, allowing the report to show where growth is concentrated and where risks are elevated.
Prices are analyzed in detail, including export and import unit values, regional spreads, and changes in trade costs. The report highlights how seasonality, freight rates, exchange rates, and supply disruptions influence pricing and margins.
Key producers, exporters, and distributors are profiled with a focus on their operational scale, geographic footprint, product mix, and market positioning. This helps identify competitive pressure points, partnership opportunities, and routes to differentiation.
This report is designed for manufacturers, distributors, importers, wholesalers, investors, and advisors who need a clear, data-driven picture of solar cells and light-emitting diodes dynamics in Germany.
The market size aggregates consumption and trade data, presented in both value and volume terms.
The projections combine historical trends with macroeconomic indicators, trade dynamics, and sector-specific drivers.
Yes, it includes export and import unit values, regional spreads, and a pricing outlook to 2035.
The report benchmarks market size, trade balance, prices, and per-capita indicators for Germany.
Yes, it highlights demand hotspots, trade routes, pricing trends, and competitive context.
Report Scope and Analytical Framing
Concise View of Market Direction
Market Size, Growth and Scenario Framing
Commercial and Technical Scope
How the Market Splits Into Decision-Relevant Buckets
Where Demand Comes From and How It Behaves
Supply Footprint and Value Capture
Trade Flows and External Dependence
Price Formation and Revenue Logic
Who Wins and Why
How the Domestic Market Works
Commercial Entry and Scaling Priorities
Where the Best Expansion Logic Sits
Leading Players and Strategic Archetypes
How the Report Was Built
Major component supplier
Global lighting leader, now part of ams OSRAM
Multinational, key HQ in Munich
Specializes in multi-junction solar cells for space
Organic photovoltaic (OPV) films
EWE research institute for energy tech
Measurement equipment & research, German ops
In-situ metrology for production
MOCVD systems producer
Laser systems for production
Wet processing and texturing systems
Furnace and diffusion systems
Vacuum coating machines
Vacuum coating systems
Vacuum and crystal growing systems
Handling and automation solutions
Laser micromachining systems
Sputtering and evaporation systems
Research and testing services
Surface vision inspection
Precision optics for LEDs
Diode laser systems
PMMA optics and resins
Polysilicon and polymeric materials
Business unit of Heraeus
High-performance OLED emitters
Silicon wafers for electronics & PV
Power electronics for lighting & PV
Polycarbonates and coatings
System technology, not cell production
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