According to industry sources on June 29, Hanwha Q CELLS recently signed an agreement to carry out the research and development project titled "Development and Verification of Commercial Area Perovskite/Crystalline Silicon Tandem Module Technology." This project is part of an energy technology development initiative overseen by the Korea Energy Technology Evaluation and Planning under the Ministry of Climate, Energy, and Environment.
Hanwha Q CELLS will form a consortium with domestic industry, academia, and research institutions to conduct research on key processes, module fabrication, and reliability verification necessary for the implementation of commercial area tandem modules. The consortium includes Hanwha Q CELLS as the lead research and development organization, along with a total of nine collaborating institutions, including domestic companies, research institutes, and universities. The consortium plans to conduct research and development over three years, starting from April of this year, with a goal of achieving a module efficiency of over 28% and a commercial area tandem module size of more than 1.7 square meters.
Hanwha Q CELLS has stated that it will focus on developing tandem manufacturing technology suitable for mass production. The company plans to conduct outdoor verification and business feasibility analysis in collaboration with domestic research institutions to identify technical and business improvement factors for future market application. This approach aims to secure manufacturing technology for tandem modules that excel in performance, reliability, and cost-effectiveness in a timely manner. Additionally, the company intends to strengthen collaboration with material, component, and equipment manufacturers while contributing to the establishment of a domestic next-generation solar energy industry ecosystem.
Tandem cells are recognized as a next-generation technology capable of significantly increasing power generation efficiency by absorbing light across different wavelength ranges compared to conventional silicon cells. The theoretical efficiency limit for tandem cells is 44%, approximately 1.5 times higher than that of silicon cells, which is 29%. Furthermore, tandem technology is expected to achieve high power generation efficiency relative to weight and lower manufacturing costs compared to existing space solar cells, increasing the potential for application in the future space solar market once the technology stabilizes.
By leading the commercialization of tandem technology, Hanwha Q CELLS aims to strengthen its market position while also establishing a foundation for business in new application areas, such as space. The company plans to link the tandem pilot lines currently operating in Korea and Germany with this national project to accumulate verification data for commercial area modules and gradually secure the technological foundation for mass production. The target for the commercialization of tandem technology is set for 2029.
Moon Soo-jin, head of Hanwha Q CELLS' Pangyo R&D Center, stated, "This project is a crucial turning point for the verification of the commercialization potential of next-generation tandem solar cells. Hanwha Q CELLS will leverage its accumulated cell and module technology and mass production capabilities to accelerate the commercialization timeline for tandem technology and contribute to enhancing the global competitiveness of the domestic solar industry."
Additionally, Hanwha Q CELLS has confirmed that it will begin mass production in July following the completion of the cell production line at its Cartersville, Georgia, facility. This marks the completion of the final core process in its vertical integration, following the operation of ingot, wafer, and module production, finalizing the construction of its integrated solar production hub in the U.S.
* This article has been translated by AI.
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