The PEPPERONI consortium successfully held its 5th General Assembly on April 1-2, 2025, at Otalora, Mondragon’s center for management and cooperative development located in picturesque Aretxabaleta, Spain. Bringing together more than 25 experts from various institutions, the meeting served as a checkpoint to assess the project’s progress, exchange insights, and define strategic next steps.
Comprehensive discussions and progress updates
The two-day assembly opened with a welcome and logistical briefing by Jean-Philippe Aguerre and Xabier Hernandez from Mondragon Assembly (MASS), followed by a high-level overview of the project status presented by Henry Weber from Qcells (QC). Attendees then engaged in an in-depth session on project coordination and administration led by Bernd Stannowski from Helmholtz-Zentrum Berlin (HZB), as well as a discussion on communication, dissemination, and exploitation strategies spearheaded by Joanna Plesniak from accelopment Schweiz AG (accelCH).
A key highlight of the event was the series of poster sessions that showcased advancements at different technological levels. These included:
- Cell-level developments and materials (WP3, WP6) led by Bernd Stannowski (HZB) and Tadas Malinauskas from the Kaunas University of Technology.
- Module-level developments, encapsulation and reliability testing (WP4, WP6, WP7) led by Quentin Jeangros from CSEM, Tadas Malinauskas (KTU), and Kristijan Brecl from University of Ljubljana.
- Pilot line development (WP2, WP5) featuring insights from Fabian Fertig (QC), Henry Weber, and representatives from MASS, FOM Technologies, Von Ardenne, and Teknisolar.
- Life cycle assessment (LCA, WP8) and pathways to impact (WP9), covered by Roberto Magnifico from the University of Liège and Joanna Plesniak (accelCH).
Strategic planning and future outlook
Day two focused on consolidating key takeaways from the poster sessions through group discussions led by the respective work package leaders. Participants then took part in a Project Landscaping Workshop, moderated by Joanna Plesniak, to refine the project’s trajectory and align future activities with broader European actions. Drawing a landscape of relevant European projects helped to demonstrate complementary initiatives and benchmark ongoing research and results. It also enables the identification of potential competitors and similar technologies. By providing an overview of ongoing EU-funded R&I initiatives, the workshop fostered synergies and guided future exploitation strategies. In preparation, Joanna used a tailored tool from accelopment to streamline data search and analysis, ensuring that partners received compiled and useful insights. The workshop was well-received, garnering positive feedback from participants.
Networking and Collaboration Beyond the Meeting Room
Beyond the technical discussions, the General Assembly also facilitated networking through a guided tour of the Mondragon Assembly facilities and a joint dinner at the traditional Iturrieta Cider House. During the guided tour, partners visited the production facilities of Mondragon, where hosts provided in-depth explanations on various solar manufacturing equipment solutions. These included stringers, interconnection machines, and other tailored solutions, as well as those that have been developed within the project. Additionally, participants gained insights into how Mondragon, the world’s largest industrial cooperative, operates – where workers pay for the right to share in its profits, fostering a unique and sustainable business model.
Looking ahead
With key insights gathered from the 5th General Assembly, the PEPPERONI project team is now well-positioned to continue advancing perovskite/silicon tandem technology towards wide implementation. The next steps will focus on scalability and reliability to ensure impactful outcomes in the coming months.
For more updates on PEPPERONI’s progress, stay tuned to our website and follow us on our social media channels.
