China's 1MW perovskite solar farm beats silicon system in industrial-scale test
A China-led team has cleared a major hurdle in commercializing perovskite, seen as the most promising alternative to conventional silicon solar technology. Researchers from China and Canada, led by Nanjing University, developed a highly stable coating for the ultra-thin, lightweight material, paving the way for industrial-scale, low-cost panels.
Researchers from China and Canada, led by Nanjing University, announced they had developed a highly stable coating that fixes microscopic defects long seen as perovskite solar cells' biggest weakness. Perovskite is prized as a thinner, lighter material than conventional silicon that can be printed onto large surfaces.
The team tested the technology at a 1-megawatt industrial-scale solar farm and reported that it outperformed standard silicon systems. The result is being described as a key threshold in perovskite's transition from laboratory research to commercial-scale manufacturing.
Experts say the next generation of low-cost, high-efficiency panels could reshape the global solar market in the coming years. The researchers said further field testing is planned as the technology is prepared for large-scale production.
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