Solar PV developer Longi claims record of 33.9% perovskite conversion

09 Nov 2023

Chinese firm achieves best efficiency of crystalline silicon-perovskite tandem solar cells so far.

Solar technology company Longi Green Energy Technology says it has set a new world record of 33.9% for the efficiency of crystalline silicon-perovskite tandem solar cells.

The previous world record was 33.7% achieved by King Abdullah University of Science & Technology (KAUST) in May this year.

Longi’s announcement stated, “According to the latest certification report of the U.S. National Renewable Energy Laboratory (NREL), the crystalline silicon-perovskite tandem solar cells independently developed by Longi has reached 33.9%, which is also the current highest efficiency record in the world.”

The new record efficiency of 33.9% has surpassed the Shockley-Quieser (S-Q) theoretical efficiency limit of 33.7% of single junction solar cells for the first time. Longi added that the achievement, “provides meaningful empirical data to demonstrate the advantages of crystalline silicon-perovskite tandem solar cells over crystalline silicon single junction solar cells in terms of efficiency.”

Dr. Xixiang Xu, Chief Scientist and VP Longi Central R&D Institute, said, “This time the R&D team has set a new world record for the efficiency of crystalline silicon-perovskite tandem solar cells, marking that Longi has become the dual champion. In addition, the new world record of 33.9% is the first time that a Chinese company has broken it since the efficiency record of crystalline silicon-perovskite tandem solar cells in 2015.”

Zhenguo Li, Founder and President of Longi, said that the efficiency of solar cells is a key indicator and benchmark for evaluating the potential of photovoltaic technologies: “As a mainstream solar cell technology occupying more than 90% of the market share, the efficiency of crystalline silicon single-junction cells continues to improve, getting closer and closer to its theoretical efficiency limit of 29.4%.”

He added, “The theoretical efficiency limit of crystalline silicon-perovskite tandem solar cells can reach 43%, and it is recognized as the mainstream technical solution to break through the efficiency limit of crystalline silicon single-junction cells.

“The emergence of crystalline silicon-perovskite tandem technology has opened up a new track for the development of next-generation high-efficiency solar cell technology. This means that the same area, absorbing the same light, can emit more electricity,” said Li.

Hua Jiang, of China Photovoltaic Industry Association, said that LONGi's new world record of 33.9% efficiency “means that the enterprise’s research and development in crystalline silicon-perovskite tandem solar cells technology is at a global leading level.”

He added that the photovoltaic industry is a cost-oriented industry, and reducing costs and increasing efficiency are the core of development. Continuously improving the conversion efficiency of solar cells is an effective measure to reduce LCOE.

Longi’s statement added, “Once this high-efficiency solar cell technology achieves mass production, it will promote a significant decrease in the cost of photovoltaic power generation, which [will be] beneficial for promoting the growth of China and even the global photovoltaic market. The growth of the photovoltaic market will also drive the entire global energy transition.”

Zhenguo Li concluded, “Longi has for a long time laid out various technological routes in the R&D sector, and collaborated with multiple parties to create efficient models and collaborative innovation mechanisms. This not only builds the ‘moat’ of Longi, but also helps enterprises across the industry development cycle.

“I also call on the entire industry to return to the main track of technological competition and promote China's photovoltaic industry to continue to lead the world through continuous technological innovation.”