ISFH CalTec in Germany Adds Large-Area Tandem Cell Calibration Service

en.Wedoany.com Reported - Germany's Institute for Solar Energy Research Hamelin (ISFH) has added calibration services for large-area perovskite-silicon tandem solar cells at its Calibration and Testing Center (CalTeC), covering wafers up to G12 size (210×210 mm). This expansion aims to meet the growing demand for reliable efficiency measurements as tandem photovoltaic technology transitions from laboratory research to commercial applications.

The expanded measurement method was presented at the tandemPV workshop held last month in Berlin, Germany, addressing several key issues in tandem cell characterization calibration, including: sub-cell-specific spectral adjustment and precise spectral mismatch correction, compensation for shading effects caused by contact fingers, correction of irradiation non-uniformity on large-area devices, uniform temperature control, and measurement protocols designed for device metastability.

Karsten Bothe, head of the ISFH CalTec solar cell calibration laboratory, stated that tandem solar cells are far more complex than traditional silicon cells and require specialized calibration to ensure the accuracy and comparability of efficiency data, thereby gaining the trust of researchers, manufacturers, and investors. The measurement capabilities provided by the laboratory help transition tandem photovoltaics from laboratory breakthroughs to commercial products.

The laboratory noted that a key challenge for tandem silicon solar cells is the transition from laboratory-scale devices of approximately 1 cm² to wafer-scale devices with an effective area of G12. This transition requires not only advancements in device manufacturing processes but also calibration methods tailored to the specific metrological requirements of tandem photovoltaics. As perovskite tandem solar photovoltaic technology transitions to industrial manufacturing, robust and standardized calibration procedures will provide a foundation for comparable measurement results, confidence in reported performance data, and the commercialization of high-efficiency tandem solar cells worldwide.

Since 2016, ISFH CalTec has been accredited for crystalline silicon solar cell calibration and has provided calibration services to over 70 companies from 20 countries. The laboratory has been authorized to independently verify photovoltaic conversion efficiency since 2018 and has to date verified 27 world-record silicon solar cell efficiencies, including records from companies such as Trina Solar, LONGi Green Energy, and JinkoSolar.