-
- News
- Books
Featured Books
- design007 Magazine
Latest Issues
Current IssueLearning to Speak ‘Fab’
Our expert contributors clear up many of the miscommunication problems between PCB designers and their fab and assembly stakeholders. As you will see, a little extra planning early in the design cycle can go a long way toward maintaining open lines of communication with the fab and assembly folks.
Training New Designers
Where will we find the next generation of PCB designers and design engineers? Once we locate them, how will we train and educate them? What will PCB designers of the future need to master to deal with tomorrow’s technology?
The Designer of the Future
Our expert contributors peer into their crystal balls and offer their thoughts on the designers and design engineers of tomorrow, and what their jobs will look like.
- Articles
- Columns
Search Console
- Links
- Media kit
||| MENU - design007 Magazine
Imec, Partners Show Outdoor Stability of Highly Anticipated Perovskite Solar Modules
January 10, 2025 | ImecEstimated reading time: 2 minutes
Imec, partner in EnergyVille, in collaboration with the University of Cyprus, has demonstrated long-term outdoor stability of perovskite solar modules. Mini-modules of 4 cm2, developed at imec/EnergyVille, were comprehensively evaluated over two years in real-world conditions in Cyprus, with a remarkable power efficiency retention of 78 percent after one year, which current perovskite solar modules only retain for weeks. These promising findings are among the first real-world results to address the stability issues that currently hinder perovskite solar cells from commercialization.
Over the last decade, metal halide perovskites have emerged as a promising material for next-generation photovoltaic (PV) cells, thanks to their unique optical and electronic properties. With advancements in materials and engineering, these cells have shown a rapid improvement in their power conversion efficiency (PCE).
However, stability challenges remain the primary obstacle to widespread adoption, as they degrade due to moisture, light and heat. Standard indoor testing in a controlled environment, which continuously mimics sun irradiation, only serves as a proxy for real-world performance. Environmental conditions, such as varying light, temperature and weather, impact cell performance. Despite this, only a handful of research groups have investigated outdoor performance of perovskite PV, focusing primarily on small cells rather than modules.
Over the last two years, imec conducted a comprehensive study of the outdoor performance of their perovskite PV modules. Mini-modules, measuring 4 cm2 and developed at imo-imomec Hasselt University and imec/EnergyVille in Belgium, were tested in collaboration with the University of Cyprus. The most durable modules retained 78 percent of their initial PCE after a year outdoors in Cyprus. This showcases their promising stability compared to current perovskite solar modules, which retain such outdoor efficiency for only weeks to months. Thanks to the outdoor set-up, a consistent pattern of performance degradation during the day and overnight recovery was also discovered. Additionally, the wealth of data allowed exploration with a machine learning model, which showed a strong correlation with the actual power output, highlighting its potential for future performance predictions.
“This research represents a major advancement in understanding the degradation of perovskite solar modules in real-world conditions. With further improvements of the efficiency of our mini-modules, which are designed with upscaling in mind, these findings can accelerate the path towards commercialization of this promising technology,” stated Tom Aernouts, R&D Manager at imec/UHasselt/EnergyVille.
To gain deeper insights into degradation behaviour across different climate zones, the modules will also be evaluated in the rainy climate of Brussels, the arid desert of New Mexico, and the moderate climates of Madrid and Freiburg.
Suggested Items
Würth Elektronik Presents its Setebos-I FeatherWing
04/02/2025 | Wurth ElektronikWürth Elektronik expands its range of FeatherWings with the Setebos-I radio module. Developers using the practical plug-in boards for fast prototyping benefit from the combined functionality of the manufacturer’s two tried and tested radio modules.
Meyer Burger, OGT Solar Sign Module Supply Agreement for Italy
04/02/2025 | Meyer BurgerMeyer Burger Technology AG and OGT Solar have signed a supply agreement. The high-performance modules “Made in Germany” were manufactured at the Freiberg plant in Germany and are intended for the Italian market.
Meyer Burger, Memodo Sign Supply Agreement for Italy
03/28/2025 | Meyer BurgerMeyer Burger Technology AG and photovoltaic distributor Memodo have signed a supply agreement. The high-performance modules “Made in Germany” were manufactured at the Freiberg plant in Germany and are intended for the Italian market.
Saki to Highlight Advanced Inspection Innovation at 39th NEPCON JAPAN
12/23/2024 | Saki CorporationSaki Corporation, an innovator in the field of automated optical and X-ray inspection equipment, will be exhibiting at the 39th NEPCON JAPAN at the Tokyo Big Site Exhibition Center.
Saki Introduces Advanced X-Ray Inspection System for Next-Generation Miniaturized and Slim Power Modules
12/11/2024 | Saki Corp.Saki Corporation, an innovator in the field of automated optical and X-ray inspection equipment, is pleased to announce the launch of the 3Xi-M200v3, the latest addition to its acclaimed 3Xi-M200 AXI series.