EnergyVille targets mineral perovskite to produce super panels of the future
In five years, will the standard silicon solar panels that the whole world has on its roofs start to feel the competition from cheaper perovskite systems with up to 50% higher energy efficiency? The Genk-based lab EnergyVille is well on its way to achieving that goal.
Did you say perovskite? It is a new type of crystal that is relatively cheap, transparent, efficient and ductile. A wafer-thin layer of the mineral on, for instance, a sheet of glass or foil is already sufficient to achieve the same efficiency as the best silicon panels. And, if you combine it with a silicon panel into a so-called tandem panel with two solar cells, a power output of half as much again can be achieved. In other words, solar light can be converted into electricity very efficiently. Moreover, perovskite does not require rare materials or scarce minerals to produce solar cells, and low process heat is sufficient. Lab test modules show that the reliability level of perovskite panels is close to that of traditional silicon, but further research is needed.
EnergyVille is currently the only research lab in Europe that can manufacture perovskite solar cells on a larger scale. If you want to scale this technology Europe-wide, the key is uniting the right partners. Investing in some high-end, niche applications, such as a curved car roof, wall panels, awnings and canopies, is also an option.