Oxford PV Unveils Solar Panels with 20% More Energy Output

Oxford PV, a spin-off from the University of Oxford, has announced the groundbreaking commercial sale of its tandem solar panels, marking a significant advancement in solar technology. These innovative panels, which use Oxford PV’s proprietary perovskite-on-silicon solar cells, offer 20% more energy production than conventional silicon-based panels, presenting a major shift in the renewable energy sector.

Higher Efficiency and Lower Costs

The 72-cell tandem solar panels, which boast a remarkable 24.5% module efficiency, are set to be used in a large-scale utility installation for an undisclosed US-based customer. By combining perovskite with silicon, Oxford PV’s technology is able to significantly reduce the levelized cost of electricity (LCOE) while maximizing land usage. This means more energy is generated from the same area, making the technology particularly appealing for utility-scale projects where land optimization is critical.

David Ward, CEO of Oxford PV, emphasized the impact of this milestone, stating, “The commercialization of this technology is a breakthrough for the energy industry. With more electricity generation from the same area, perovskite technology is now helping utilities speed up the transition by offering more energy at a lower cost.”

World’s First Commercial Perovskite Deployment

Oxford PV’s panels represent the first commercial deployment of perovskite tandem solar panels globally. This comes after the company set a world record for solar panel efficiency at 26.9% in June, as reported by Electrek. The company’s factory in Brandenburg an der Havel, Germany, is at the forefront of producing these high-efficiency tandem solar cells, a result of years of research and development since 2014.

Scaling Up for a Renewable Future

Looking ahead, Oxford PV is focusing on scaling its production to meet growing demand. It plans to continue allocating production from its German facility to utility customers and will also explore specialty products and pilot residential applications. While no specific timeline has been provided, the company has revealed plans to eventually scale production to gigawatt capacity at a future high-volume manufacturing plant.