Perovskite PV is developing considerable buzz with one of the pioneers of the technology rolling out a hybrid application.
Perovskite has the potential to change the solar industry, said Oxford CEO and Founder Kevin Arthur. Simply put, the material delivers very high performance at a low cost. Applied as a tandem layer, perovskite can have a significant impact by turbo boosting the efficiencies of current mainstream crystalline silicon products.
We are really just scratching the surface now, given the rich potential of this mate- rial for a range of solar applications in the longer term.
Since spinning out from esteemed British educational establishment Oxford University in 2010, Oxford PVs chief focus was on developing technology for the building-integrated photovoltaics (BIPV) market. The Oxford PV BIPV program has targeted 2017 as the date by which its coated glass products will be licensed to market, but the company sees more immediate revenue opportunities with this latest perovskite breakthrough.
In two years of R&D, we have gone from a conversion efficiency of 5% as a stand-
alone solar cell to above 17% and the data is continuously improving as we try new things, said the companys CTO, Chris Case. We believe this material can deliver conversion efficiencies in the high 20s in a relatively short period of time. Ultimately, it will drive the performance of solar panels to the next level. Based on progress with customer partners, we expect to see prototype panels available in 2015.
Oxford University professor Henry Snaith developed the technology upon which Oxford PV is founded. The scientist was recently awarded Outstanding Young Investigator of the Year by the Materials Research Society for his work with perovskite for solar cells. Snaiths concept has since evolved from lab product to marketable product in less than two years. A simply stunning achievement, added Arthur.
The September edition of pv magazine includes a feature article on perovskite PV, its potential and challenges.
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