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PEROVSKITES: Qcells Plans First Production Line for ‘Miracle’ Solar Cell

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Mitchell Beer 128,860
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I’m publisher of The Energy Mix, an e-digest and online archive on energy, climate, and the shift to a post-carbon economy. Also president of Smarter Shift, an Ottawa-based firm that specializes...

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  • May 22, 2023
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Solar manufacturing giant Qcells is investing US$100 million in a pilot production line that incorporates perovskites, a “miracle” semiconductor material under development for more than a decade that could improve on the efficiency of existing solar cells by 50 to 75%.

“The commercialization of solar cells that use perovskite follows years of breakthroughs with the mineral,” The Independent reports. PVTech says the production line in Jincheon, South Korea will start up by late 2024, aiming to deliver commercially viable perovskite cells by 2026.

“This investment in Jincheon will mark an important step in securing technological leadership,” said Justin Lee, CEO of Seoul-based Qcells. “With global R&D network spanning from Korea, Germany, and the U.S., Qcells will ramp up its efforts to produce high-efficiency advanced tandem cells.”

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Matt Chester's picture
Matt Chester on May 22, 2023

I know U.S. policymakers are focused on trying to get production of solar tech ramped up domestically, but much of that is in an effort to wean off of reliance of Chinese panels, so this success by South Korea looks to still be helpful towards those goals. 

Mitchell Beer's picture
Mitchell Beer on May 22, 2023

That's a good point, Matt. I don't know the in-depth details, but one of the news reports said Qcells was dividing the R&D effort between South Korea, the EU, and the U.S. And of course Qcells is investing heavily in U.S. manufacturing, even if Marjorie Taylor Greene is, erm, conflicted about some of that investment going into her district. (A word of thanks, anyone, for the grown-ups in the room?)

Jim Stack's picture
Jim Stack on May 24, 2023

MB, You maybe jumping the spark gap here a little bit. From the reports I have read these new cell may not last as long as mono crystaline cells. I like the Sunpower cells with the intercell connections on the back for better power in heat and low light. They can produce close to 50% more power a day compared to other designs. They have the longest warranty too. 

QUOTE=The lack of stability of perovskite materials is a well-known issue and it has been shown that at the device level, several degradations occur simultaneously at various interfaces. Moisture, UV light, hot temperatures, and exposure to the outside air can all directly contribute to these degradations.Jan 9, 2023

Mitchell Beer's picture
Mitchell Beer on May 24, 2023

Thanks, Jim. That's definitely been the concern with perovskites, and I tried to write our summary with all due caution. (The other interesting flag -- just a side note that developers have just recently figured out how to manufacture them without lead.) I still think it's interesting news that a manufacturer with lots of experience and deep pockets has moved the technology from the lab into production, but time will tell how close that is to perovskites being ready for prime time.

After we published our original story, we approached Mark Jacobson for comment. His email reply was that there are more immediately viable renewable technologies that are ready now, and other ones in development besides perovskites. So once again -- I don't hear this as ruling them out, nor as anyone declaring them a done deal just yet.

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