Can perovskite technology illuminate the future of photovoltaics?Can perovskite technology illuminate the future of photovoltaics?
Dimming glass skylights, color power-generating facades, photovoltaic phone backs, power-generating sunshades... At this year's International Solar Photovoltaic and Smart Energy Conference and Exhibition (SNEC 2025), the latest developed perovskite photovoltaic products and solutions were showcased in a concentrated manner, standing out among the uniform crystalline silicon photovoltaic modules. Perovskite has also become a frequently mentioned buzzword among leading photovoltaic enterprises recently. In the current competitive environment of the photovoltaic industry, will this technology, known as the "new species" of photovoltaics, truly reach the critical point of disrupting the industry?
Perovskite is not a natural mineral. It contains neither calcium nor titanium. Instead, it generally refers to a class of compounds with a special crystal structure. Instead, it generally refers to a class of compounds with a special crystal structure. These substances were first discovered in calcium titanate compounds in calcium titanite, hence the name. In the field of photovoltaics, the unique feature of perovskite materials lies in their extremely strong light absorption capacity, which can efficiently convert solar energy into electrical energy. Compared with traditional silicon-based photovoltaic materials, perovskite not only has a higher potential for photoelectric conversion efficiency, but also is more environmentally friendly and cost-effective during production. These advantages make it stand out among various photovoltaic technology routes and become a highly regarded "star".
Once perovskite photovoltaic technology is put into large-scale commercial use, it will have a significant impact on the breakthrough of the photovoltaic industry and the energy transition. In the photovoltaic sector, efficiency and cost are eternal issues. After decades of development, crystalline silicon battery technology has achieved an efficiency of around 27%, approaching the theoretical limit. Moreover, the manufacturing cost is constrained by high-purity silicon materials and complex processes, and there is limited room for further reduction. The technological progress hitting the "ceiling" is also an important reason for the current internal strife within the photovoltaic industry.
Perovskite cells have opened a "new world door" for the photovoltaic industry. In terms of efficiency, perovskite materials can be flexibly adjusted by humans to "formulate", making full use of different wavelengths of sunlight and converting them into electrical energy. The theoretical efficiency of a single-junction perovskite cell exceeds 30%, while the tandem cell can reach over 40%, far exceeding that of crystalline silicon cells. In terms of cost, the preparation process of perovskite cells is simple and efficient. From raw materials to finished components, the transformation can be completed in a single factory, and the production speed is also much faster than that of crystalline silicon, which is expected to significantly reduce the production threshold and costs. In terms of application, the lightweight, flexible, semi-transparent, and good low-light response characteristics of perovskite make solar energy utilization scenarios no longer limited to traditional photovoltaic power stations. It has opened up new fields such as photovoltaic building integration, wearable energy devices, and car roofs for new areas, not only significantly expanding the application space of photovoltaics, but also helping enterprises to compete differently and optimize the ecological pattern of the photovoltaic industry.
From the perspective of energy transition, solar energy is the core clean energy. The high efficiency and low cost of perovskite photovoltaic technology can accelerate the large-scale application of photovoltaics. It helps increase the proportion of clean energy in energy consumption, reduce reliance on traditional fossil energy, and promote the global energy transition towards a clean, low-carbon, and sustainable direction.
In terms of industrial progress, perovskite technology has gradually approached the commercialization threshold. Ronics, and Jide Optoelectronics have all built gigawatt-level production lines; leading enterprises like Longi Green Energy, Tongwei Co., Jinko Technology, and Tianshe Optoelectronics have all embarked on the research and development of perovskite crystalline silicon tandem batteries, and some have even established megawatt-level production lines; enterprises such as China National Petroleum, China Nuclear, Ningde Time, BYD, and BOE have also entered the field of perovskite technology, accelerating the establishment of pilot lines and larger-scale production lines.
However, Rome wasn't built in a day. As per the journey of the perovskite battery towards "disruption", it also encounters numerous obstacles. Stability is currently a major weakness. Under the long-term erosion of water, oxygen, light and heat, the performance degradation of perovskite batteries needs to be addressed urgently; when expanding the production scale and preparing on a large scale, how to ensure the uniformity of the film and reduce defects is also a challenge in process scaling; at the same time, the supply chain of specialized materials and equipment is not yet mature, and the industry standards and testing certification system also urgently need to be established.
Taking all factors into consideration, in the short term, perovskite technology will be more widely promoted in the form of perovskite and crystalline silicon tandem cells, leveraging the foundation of the silicon-based industrial chain, and is expected to quickly open up the market.In the long term, if stability is broken through, it may disrupt the traditional photovoltaic landscape and become the mainstream in the photovoltaic market.
"Perovskite is the future" has become an industry consensus. In the coming years, it will be the "golden window period" to verify its commercial feasibility. The yield of mass-produced components, the rate of cost reduction, and long-term reliability data will be the key to breakthroughs. During this process, policy guidance, standard establishment, and industry chain collaboration are of vital importance. Investors need to have patience in supporting long-term technological breakthroughs, and enterprises need to avoid "short-sighted competition" to jointly promote the healthy development of the industry.
