Fraunhofer-Gesellschaft
»MaNiTU« – Materials for sustainable tandem solar cells with highest conversion efficiency
Solar cells with the highest efficiencies deliver electricity cost-effectively while consuming less space and materials. High efficiencies also enable new products, such as energy-autonomous buildings or electric cars that can be charged using solar cells. However, the efficiency of silicon solar cells can no longer be increased at will. The physical limits responsible for this can be overcome with tandem solar cells. With them, efficiencies of over 35 % are possible. Tandem solar cells are therefore the focus of current solar cell research. At the same time, within the next 5-10 years, the annual installation of solar panels worldwide will increase to more than 1 TWp. These quantities also require the consistent avoidance of critical materials (e.g. lead) in the production of solar modules. In the Fraunhofer lighthouse project »MaNiTU«, six Fraunhofer institutes are therefore working together to develop sustainable, highly efficient and cost-effective tandem solar cells based on new absorber materials.
