Hanwha Qcells, a subsidiary of South Korea’s Hanwha Corp, has made global headlines by setting a new world record for tandem solar cell efficiency. The company’s groundbreaking M10-sized cell, which features a perovskite-silicon structure, achieved an impressive efficiency of 28.6%. This remarkable output surpasses the efficiency levels of traditional crystalline silicon cells, which typically reach 27%, as well as the 21% efficiency commonly seen in standard commercial solar panels. This achievement comes just one year after the company embarked on large-scale tandem development, signaling a significant breakthrough in project size and cost reduction.
Danielle Merfeld, the Global Chief Technology Officer at Hanwha Qcells, emphasized the importance of this milestone, stating, “The tandem cell technology developed at Hanwha Qcells will accelerate the commercialization process of this technology and, ultimately, deliver a great leap forward in photovoltaic performance. We are committed to advancing the next generation of solar energy efficiency and will continue to invest significantly in research and development to drive progress in this field, as every kilowatt counts on the path to building a more sustainable future.”
The journey towards redefining solar efficiency began in 2016 when Hanwha Qcells’ R&D team laid the groundwork for developing a commercially viable tandem solar cell using perovskite top-cell technology in conjunction with the company’s flagship silicon bottom-cell technology. By 2019, the solar giant had established an advanced research center in Pangyo, Korea, to complement its well-established R&D hub in Bitterfeld-Wolfen, Germany. After achieving success with small-area tandem cells, the focus shifted to large-area designs, culminating in the record-breaking 28.6% tandem solar cell efficiency.
The certified record was verified by the CalLab at the Fraunhofer Institute for Solar Energy Systems (ISE). The high efficiency of the tandem solar cell is attributed to an innovative design that pairs a perovskite-based top cell with Hanwha Qcells’ proprietary Q.ANTUM silicon bottom-cell technology. This measurement was taken on a full-area M10-sized cell, using a standard industrial silicon wafer that could be interconnected into an industrial module. The tandem technology optimizes energy capture by stacking a perovskite top cell and a silicon bottom cell, allowing for the absorption of high-energy light by the top cell while low-energy light passes through to the bottom cell, maximizing power output per module.
The strategic advantage of this technology lies in the fact that fewer panels can generate the same power, leading to reduced costs and land use for solar projects. Hanwha Qcells has developed this tandem technology with commercial manufacturing in mind, focusing on moving beyond lab-scale demonstrations. With scalable processes and tools in place, the company is well-positioned to usher in the next generation of efficient and cost-effective solar energy solutions, bringing the solar industry closer to the widespread commercialization of more powerful and affordable solar technology.
Robert Bauer, the Head of Hanwha Qcells R&D in Germany, expressed his excitement about the new world record in tandem cell efficiency, highlighting the use of in-house developed perovskite technology as the top cell and cost-efficient Q.ANTUM silicon technology as the bottom cell. This milestone paves the way for the future commercialization of this innovative technology, setting a solid foundation for continued advancements in the field.
Hanwha Qcells is a global leader in solar energy, manufacturing high-performance solar modules and innovative storage systems. With headquarters in Seoul, South Korea, and manufacturing hubs in the U.S., South Korea, and Malaysia, the company offers end-to-end clean energy solutions for utility, commercial, and residential markets worldwide. The R&D efforts of Hanwha Qcells have received substantial support, with the Pangyo R&D Center recognized as a national research institute benefiting from Korean government funding, while the Bitterfeld-Wolfen center is backed by a global network, including support from the German Federal Ministry for Economic Affairs and Climate Action, the EU Commission, and the state of Saxony-Anhalt.
Collaborative initiatives such as the EU’s PEPPERONI project have further fueled progress in the solar energy sector. Danielle Merfeld emphasized the importance of global partnerships, stating, “We are fortunate to have outstanding global R&D teams and to have received invaluable support from our partners in Korea and Europe, leveraging their resources and expertise. We deeply appreciate everyone dedicated to driving innovations that bring us closer to achieving our climate goals.”
In a significant development, the U.S. Department of Energy’s Loan Programs Office (LPO) has finalized a $1.45 billion loan to support Qcells’ solar manufacturing facility in Cartersville, Georgia. This funding will help build a robust solar supply chain in the U.S., contributing to the country’s energy independence and efforts to reduce carbon emissions. With the surge in solar installations over the past decade, the U.S. aims to reach 10 million installations by 2030, with total solar capacity projected to hit 673 GW by 2034, enough to power over 100 million homes.
Hanwha Qcells, as the largest silicon-based solar panel producer in the Western Hemisphere, plans to invest $2.8 billion in the Cartersville facility, which will produce ingots, wafers, cells, and panels on a multi-gigawatt scale. Upon completion, the plant will have a production capacity of 8.4 GW, equating to approximately 46,000 solar panels per day. This investment is a significant step towards rebuilding critical parts of the domestic solar supply chain, contributing to the U.S.’s energy goals and carbon emission reduction targets.
Hanwha Solutions’ 2050 Net Zero goals align with the global target of limiting temperature rise to below 1.5°C. With strategies in place to cut Scope 1 and 2 emissions by 35% by 2030 and 60% by 2040, the company is committed to leveraging energy efficiency, renewable energy adoption, by-product hydrogen utilization, and carbon capture and utilization technologies to achieve its sustainability objectives. By actively participating in programs such as KEPCO’s Green Premium program, Hanwha Solutions is making tangible contributions to the transition towards a cleaner and more sustainable energy future.
