Qcells to spend USD 100m as part of race for perovskite tandem cells

• Solar products maker Qcells, a subsidiary of Seoul-based Hanwha Solutions Corp with German roots, today revealed a USD-100-million (EUR 91.9 m) financial investment in a pilot line targeted at speeding up the commercialisation of perovskite-based tandem cells.

Hanwha Solutions will certainly build the pilot line at its Jincheon manufacturing facility in South Korea, with the start of procedures targeted by late 2024 and also tandem cell commercialisation by 2026. The new center will deal with Qcells' head office for technology and development in Thalheim, Germany, where the business currently runs a R&D pilot line for tandem cells. Qcells also joins the PEPPERONI research project, which seeks to advance the development of tandem cells in Europe.

"With worldwide R&D network spanning from Korea, Germany and the United States, Qcells will ramp up its efforts to produce high-efficiency advanced tandem cells," mentioned Qcells chief executive Justin Lee.

Perovskite tandem cells promise substantially higher solar panel effectiveness. Earlier this year, Qcells attained a tandem cell effectiveness price of 29.3% in cooperation with Helmholtz Zentrum Berlin.

In an indicator that the interest in perovskite tandems is expanding, United States thin-film photovoltaics (PV) manufacturer First Solar Inc last week introduced the purchase of Swedish perovskite expert Evolar AB to increase its efforts to create tandem innovation.