Paving the way for commercialisation of high-efficiency solar technology
Qcells, a global leader in solar energy solutions and a core partner in the PEPPERONI project, has achieved a major step towards commercialising tandem solar modules. The company has successfully completed a series of rigorous stress tests on its perovskite/silicon tandem modules, verified independently by TÜV Rheinland. These tests meet criteria defined in, both, IEC and UL certification standards, and were performed following tandem-specific power measurement protocols, a first in the industry.
This milestone follows Qcells’ record-setting announcement in December 2024 for the highest efficiency in a commercially scalable tandem solar cell. The latest validation confirms the technology’s stability and is a key contribution to the PEPPERONI project’s Technology Assessment and WP7 Reliability through indoor testing & outdoor monitoring.
Enabling reliable, sustainable tandem deployment
The tested modules were manufactured at Qcells’ R&D pilot line in Bitterfeld-Wolfen (Germany), using industry-compatible methods and full-area M10 substrates for solar cell fabrication. Within PEPPERONI, these results provide valuable data for assessing operational durability, identifying degradation mechanisms, and guiding accelerated ageing tests and environmental qualification procedures (IEC/ISOS). The modules will also support outdoor performance monitoring and reliability modelling, essential for forecasting long-term performance in real-world conditions.
Advancing commercial readiness
Qcells’ tandem architecture features a two-terminal design, combining a perovskite top cell with the companies’ proprietary Q.ANTUM silicon bottom cell. Modules underwent stress tests, including UV preconditioning, thermal cycling, humidity-freeze, and damp heat exposure, all passed under multi-junction performance criteria defined in IEC TS 60904-1-1.
Fabian Fertig, Head of Tandem R&D at Qcells Germany and Technology Development Coordinator in PEPPERONI, commented: “The tested cells and modules are typical devices from our R&D pilot line in Germany and have been fabricated by exclusively using processes that are feasible for mass production. This result is laying the groundwork for future commercialisation of this exciting technology.”
This milestone represents not just a leap forward for Qcells but also a significant step for the PEPPERONI project’s mission to drive high-efficiency tandem solar technology towards large-scale deployment, contributing to a more sustainable energy future.
Featured picture: by Qcells, source: us.qcells.com
Fabian Fertig, Head of Tandem R&D – Director, Qcells
