At ART-PV India, we aim to create stable and scalable perovskite tandems. Perovskites are the future of Solar technology. Halide perovskite semiconductors are fundamentally the best absorbing solar cell material available on this planet and widely accepted as the futuristic solar cell technology will be based on these semiconductors. ART-PV India aims to create a stable and scalable perovskite tandem solar cell technology to ensure its availability to all and make clean energy a standard for a greener and sustainable world.
What is Perovskite?
Perovskite is a synthetic crystalline material that absorbs most efficiently visible wavelengths of sunlight that conventional silicon solar panels cannot and conducts current efficiently with minimum losses. Adding perovskite to traditional modules for a tandem cell technology can increase their power output from current standard cell’s PCE from 26% to 45%, which will substantially lower the energy cost. which will be most disruptive in the energy sector. Ease of processing of these materials further reduces energy/financial payback time and directly impacts issues related to climate change!
Perovskite cells offer higher efficiency, lower cost, flexibility, and better low-light performance and ease of manufacturing than silicon based cells
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Parameters
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Silicon based cells
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Perovskite cells
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Theoretical maximum and commercial efficiency
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29-33% (Shockley-Queisser limit)
Commercially available: 25.09% |
Theoretical: 45.3%
Commercially available: 26.36% module efficiency |
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Light absorption
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Can absorb photons with a wavelength greater than 800 nm as the bandgap width of silicon is 1.12 eV
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Can absorb photons with a wavelength less than 800 nm as the bandgap width of perovskites is 1.55 eV
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Raw Material availability
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China controls ~80% of the global supply chain from raw poly-silicon to finished modules
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Lead halide and tin halide are widely available, less energy-intensive to process
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Raw material Cost
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Lower cost due to abundance and simplicity in processing
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Lower cost due to abundance and simplicity in processing
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Manufacturing ease
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Established manufacturing with complex and energy-intensive processes for monocrystalline silicon and casting for polycrystalline silicon
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Utilizes techniques like printing & coating, which are less energy-intensive & more scalable
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Durability and lifespan
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25-30 years
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Shorter lifespan compared to silicon cells, recent advances in encapsulation and stabilization techniques are extending their operational life
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What is Tandem?
A tandem perovskite solar cell is an advanced photovoltaic device that enhances efficiency by stacking multiple absorber layers or integrating perovskite with other semiconductors like silicon. These multi-junction cells absorb different parts of the solar spectrum, capturing a broader range of wavelengths to achieve higher power conversion efficiency than single-junction solar cells. Tandem solar cells can be two popular configurations: 4-terminal tandem and 2-terminal tandem cells. in 4T-tandem two independently optimized solar cells with complimentary bandgap get optically stacked and connected in series externally to boost power conversion efficiency (PCE). Whereas, in 2T-tandem cells, two sub-cells with complimentary bandgap are connected via recombination junction interlayer. In 2T-tandem cells, sun-induced photocurrent matching from stacked sub-cells is an important criterion for optimal PCE. Common types of tandem perovskite solar cells include perovskite-silicon tandems, which surpass the efficiency limits of traditional silicon cells; all-perovskite tandems, which optimize multiple perovskite layers for different wavelengths; and perovskite-CIGS combinations for specialized applications.
Why Tandem?
The rapid increase in energy demand, climate change and energy security are harsh realities! A right choice of energy technology is the need of the day, as we know the Universe is expanding, not the earth! Multi-junction PVs with higher efficiencies are new to us, it is being used for space applicitons only. However, perovskite tandem solar cells are affordable and provide superior to single-junction silicon solar cells due to their significantly higher efficiency, surpassing 34.8% by stacking multiple layers optimized for different wavelengths of light, unlike silicon cells, which are theoretically limited to 29% and practically 27.8 % efficiency. Since, perovskite materials offer cost and manufacturing advantages, as they can be processed at much lower temperatures (~150°C) compared to silicon (~1000°C), reducing energy and production costs. Furthermore, perovskite tandem cells perform better under low-light and indoor conditions, making them more effective in environments with indirect sunlight. While stability and scalability challenges remain, ongoing research is improving the durability of these cells through advanced encapsulation techniques and material innovations. Their lightweight and flexible design allows for innovative applications, such as wearable solar technology, building-integrated photovoltaics (BIPV), and portable solar chargers, which are impractical with rigid silicon panels. Overall, perovskite tandem solar cells represent a breakthrough in photovoltaic technology, promising a more efficient, cost-effective, and versatile solar energy solution for the future.
OUR USP
A fast learning curve of ART-PV India is the hallmark of their team’s intelligence, sincerity and dedication where it holds the granted patents for developing electronic grade halide perovskite, equipment solutions and device engineering. ART-PV India is backed up by strong national and international academic experts and best scholars of the country to meet the next edge in tandem PV tech. We have been able to demonstrate 4T tandem cell’s PCE > 30% at lab-scale cell size and planned to deliver a commercial wafer size solution by December 2027.
Our IP Portfolio
ART-PV India ‘s portfolio has many national and international patents, many already granted and few under review. Our USP is not only to develop the device engineering solution, but also to develop the indigenous equipment for fabrication and characterization of these deep-tech tandem solar cell devices. ART-PV India is committed to deliver a 100% indigenous solution in new PV technology with scale and low-cost.