TOPIC INSIGHTS

Silicon solar cells continue to dominate the global PV market. With TOPCon and heterojunction technologies replacing PERC, we are pushing the limits of performance – record efficiencies are reaching 27.8%, closing the gap to the theoretical maximum of 29.4%. This outstanding performance positions silicon solar cells as ideal partners for future tandem structures. However, there is a flip side to the coin: highest-efficiency solar cells exhibit increased sensitivity to degradation mechanisms, particularly UV-induced degradation. This stability challenge will be another focal point of the conference. Additionally, due to massive market growth, sustainability in production is gaining importance.

Three plenary talks addressing highest efficiencies, scaling of manufacturing, and UV-induced degradation offer valuable insights into the topic of silicon materials and cells, which remains an exciting and dynamic area of research.

— Dr Florian Schindler
Fraunhofer ISE

While Silicon wafer-based solar cells are getting nearer and nearer to their theoretical energy conversion efficiency limit, the development of new concepts and materials is crucial for the next generation of solar cells that should go beyond the efficiency limit of single-junction Silicon solar cells. Topic 2 on thin films and new concepts therefore focuses on thin film solar cells based on perovskites, chalcogenides, kesterites, CdTe, organics, and III-V materials, as well as on various types of tandem and triple junction devices. Of particular importance are new modelling and characterization techniques to understand the fundamental physics and material properties of the novel device concepts. A lot of focus in various sessions will be on upscaling, stability and outdoor performance of both perovskite single junction devices as well as perovskite-based multijunctions. Many new record efficiencies at lab scale as well as at industrial scale will be reported and devices with record stability performance will be analysed in detail.

— Dr Ivan Gordon
IMEC

Topic 4 “Photovoltaic Systems” is this year divided into seven subtopics, including the long-running subtopics on Solar Resource and Forecasting, where new enhanced solar irradiance products and forecasting methods will be presented; Design, Engineering and Installation of PV Systems, which this year includes BoS and deals among other aspects with tracking systems; the subtopic on Operation, Performance and Maintenance of PV Systems, which is the largest of the Conference reflecting the importance of optimizing the PV assets’ performance, and deals with challenges and new solutions, and the subtopic on PV and Buildings, with sessions dedicated to coloured PV modules and PV performance in and on buildings.

Due to the increasing interest and extended application of Agri-PV, there is a new dedicated subtopic with successful examples and new PV designs for this application this year. It complements the subtopic on other Innovative PV Applications, which includes PV in Space, mobility and vehicle-integrated PV and floating PV to analyse all current PV integrated configurations. This fourth topic also includes examples of Direct Uses of PV Generated Electricity like solar irrigation or green hydrogen production.

Join us at this year’s EU PVSEC to learn the latest updates on the above-mentioned topics and discuss them with the attending experts and presenters at the 24 sessions distributed throughout the week.

— Ana M. Gracia Amillo, PhD
CENER