Solar Cells Near 40% Efficiency via New Research – Mirage News

Report on Advances in Perovskite/Silicon Tandem Solar Cell Technology

Introduction: Accelerating the Transition to Clean Energy

An engineering research team at The Hong Kong Polytechnic University (PolyU) has reported a significant breakthrough in third-generation perovskite/silicon tandem solar cells (TSCs). This research directly addresses the objectives of several Sustainable Development Goals (SDGs) by focusing on enhancing the efficiency, stability, and scalability of solar technology. The team’s strategic analysis aims to increase the energy conversion efficiency of TSCs from approximately 34% to a target of around 40%. This advancement is positioned to accelerate the commercialisation of high-efficiency renewable energy, contributing significantly to SDG 7 (Affordable and Clean Energy) and SDG 13 (Climate Action) by supporting global carbon neutrality goals.

Research Analysis and Strategic Imperatives

Core Findings and Publication

The research, led by Prof. LI Gang and Prof. YANG Guang of the PolyU Department of Electrical and Electronic Engineering, was published in the journal Nature Photonics. The paper, “Towards efficient, scalable and stable perovskite/silicon tandem solar cells,” provides a critical review of the challenges and future prospects for the technology. The primary objective is to facilitate the transition from laboratory-scale devices to commercially viable industrial fabrication.

Alignment with Sustainable Development Goals (SDGs)

The project’s focus and intended outcomes are deeply integrated with the United Nations’ SDGs:

• SDG 7 (Affordable and Clean Energy): By striving to lower the levelised cost of electricity through substantial efficiency gains, the research aims to make clean energy more accessible and economically competitive.
• SDG 9 (Industry, Innovation, and Infrastructure): The development supports sustainable industrialisation by providing a reliable green energy source for high-consumption sectors like artificial intelligence, fostering innovation in both energy and technology.
• SDG 12 (Responsible Consumption and Production): The research acknowledges and seeks to mitigate the environmental impact of solar cell production by addressing the use of hazardous materials.
• SDG 13 (Climate Action): The successful commercialisation of this technology is a direct contribution to climate change mitigation by providing a powerful tool for reducing carbon emissions in the energy sector.

Identified Challenges to Commercial Viability

Technical and Environmental Hurdles

The PolyU team identified several critical challenges that must be overcome to achieve widespread adoption and contribute effectively to the SDGs. These are categorized as follows:

1. Material Stability: The intrinsic instability of perovskite materials when exposed to environmental stressors such as moisture, oxygen, ultraviolet light, and thermal fluctuations remains a primary barrier to long-term reliability.
2. Scalability and Manufacturing: Translating high efficiency from small-area laboratory devices to large-area commercial modules is a significant hurdle, requiring advancements in uniformity, defect control, and large-scale fabrication techniques.
3. Long-Term Performance Data: There is a scarcity of certified data on the long-term reliability and operational lifetime of TSCs under real-world conditions, which is essential for investor confidence and commercial deployment.
4. Environmental and Regulatory Concerns: In alignment with SDG 12, the use of rare elements and heavy metal lead in current cell designs poses significant environmental risks and regulatory challenges that could impede commercialisation.

Strategic Recommendations for Future Development

A Roadmap for Sustainable Implementation

To address the identified challenges, the research team advocates for a multidisciplinary and collaborative approach focused on sustainable development:

1. Implement Rigorous Standardised Testing: To build confidence in the technology’s long-term viability, accelerated stability testing based on International Electrotechnical Commission (IEC) standards is recommended.
2. Promote Sustainable Material Innovation: To ensure compliance with SDG 12, the report calls for the development of sustainable alternative materials and the creation of efficient recycling or lead sequestration strategies to manage end-of-life environmental impact.
3. Foster Industry-Academia-Research Collaboration: A collaborative framework integrating material science, device engineering, and economic modelling is proposed to accelerate technological advancement and ensure alignment with industrial standards, directly supporting SDG 9.
4. Focus on Economic Viability: The ultimate goal is to achieve a lower levelised cost of electricity, making this advanced solar technology a cornerstone of the global effort to achieve SDG 7 and drive a low-carbon transformation of the energy structure.

Analysis of Sustainable Development Goals in the Article

1. Which SDGs are addressed or connected to the issues highlighted in the article?

1. SDG 7: Affordable and Clean Energy
   • The article’s core focus is on advancing third-generation solar cell technology (perovskite/silicon tandem solar cells) to improve energy conversion efficiency. This directly contributes to making clean, renewable solar energy more accessible and effective, which is the central theme of SDG 7. The text mentions providing a “stable supply of high-efficiency renewable energy” and achieving a “low-carbon transformation of the energy structure.”
2. SDG 9: Industry, Innovation and Infrastructure
   • The research conducted by The Hong Kong Polytechnic University (PolyU) team represents a significant scientific and technological innovation. The article highlights the need to overcome challenges in scalability, manufacturability, and large-area fabrication to move from “laboratory studies to commercial fabrication.” It also advocates for “industry-academia-research collaboration,” which is a key driver for industrial and technological advancement as outlined in SDG 9.
3. SDG 12: Responsible Consumption and Production
   • The article raises environmental concerns related to the materials used in the solar cells. It specifically points out that “the use of rare elements and heavy metal lead in most cell designs raises significant environmental and regulatory concerns.” The call for developing “sustainable alternatives, along with efficient recycling or lead sequestration strategies” directly addresses the need for environmentally sound management of materials and waste, a core principle of SDG 12.
4. SDG 13: Climate Action
   • The development of more efficient solar technology is a critical strategy for combating climate change by reducing reliance on fossil fuels. The article explicitly links the research to climate goals, stating that it aligns with “the Nation’s strategic plan of carbon peaking and neutrality” and aims to help “achieve a low-carbon transformation of the energy structure.”

2. What specific targets under those SDGs can be identified based on the article’s content?

1. Under SDG 7 (Affordable and Clean Energy):
   • Target 7.2: By 2030, increase substantially the share of renewable energy in the global energy mix. The research aims to accelerate the commercialization of highly efficient solar cells, which would directly contribute to increasing the proportion of solar energy in the power supply.
   • Target 7.3: By 2030, double the global rate of improvement in energy efficiency. The article’s central theme is the breakthrough in raising the “energy conversion efficiency” of solar cells, a key aspect of improving energy efficiency in the renewable sector.
2. Under SDG 9 (Industry, Innovation and Infrastructure):
   • Target 9.4: By 2030, upgrade infrastructure and retrofit industries to make them sustainable, with increased resource-use efficiency and greater adoption of clean and environmentally sound technologies and industrial processes. The research focuses on developing a more efficient and commercially viable clean energy technology. The call to address the use of lead and develop sustainable alternatives aligns with making the technology environmentally sound.
   • Target 9.5: Enhance scientific research, upgrade the technological capabilities of industrial sectors in all countries… encouraging innovation. The entire article is about a university research team’s work to advance solar cell technology, highlighting the role of scientific research and “industry-academia-research collaboration” in driving innovation.
3. Under SDG 12 (Responsible Consumption and Production):
   • Target 12.4: By 2020, achieve the environmentally sound management of chemicals and all wastes throughout their life cycle… and significantly reduce their release to air, water and soil in order to minimize their adverse impacts on human health and the environment. The article’s concern about “heavy metal lead” and its advocacy for “efficient recycling or lead sequestration strategies” directly relates to this target.
4. Under SDG 13 (Climate Action):
   • Target 13.2: Integrate climate change measures into national policies, strategies and planning. The research is explicitly framed as aligning with “the Nation’s strategic plan of carbon peaking and neutrality,” demonstrating the integration of climate action into technological and research strategies.

3. Are there any indicators mentioned or implied in the article that can be used to measure progress towards the identified targets?

1. For SDG 7 Targets:
   • Indicator for Target 7.2: The commercialization and deployment of perovskite/silicon tandem solar cells (TSCs). The article discusses accelerating this process as a primary goal.
   • Indicator for Target 7.3: The energy conversion efficiency of solar cells. The article provides specific quantitative data, stating the goal is to raise efficiency “from the current maximum of approximately 34% to around 40%.”
2. For SDG 9 Targets:
   • Indicator for Target 9.4: The development of sustainable, lead-free alternative materials for solar cells. The article advocates for this as a necessary step for viable commercialization.
   • Indicator for Target 9.5: The output of scientific research, such as the publication of the research paper in the journal “Nature Photonics.” Another indicator is the establishment of “industry-academia-research collaboration” to advance the technology.
3. For SDG 12 Targets:
   • Indicator for Target 12.4: The development and implementation of “efficient recycling or lead sequestration strategies” for solar cells containing heavy metals.
4. For SDG 13 Targets:
   • Indicator for Target 13.2: The alignment of technological research and development with national climate strategies, as mentioned by the reference to the “Nation’s strategic plan of carbon peaking and neutrality.”

4. Table of SDGs, Targets, and Indicators

Source: miragenews.com