On March 23, 2025, Trina Solar's National Key Laboratory of Photovoltaic Science and Technology announced that it has successfully fabricated the world's first perovskite/crystalline silicon tandem cell module with a standard industrial size of 210 and a peak power of 808W. This innovation, certified by TÜV SÜD's testing laboratory, not only sets a new benchmark in the industry, but also marks the beginning of the era of efficient stacking for the PV industry.
1. Technological Leap: From Laboratory Exploration to Industrialization Breakthrough
At present, crystalline silicon solar cells account for more than 90% of the global photovoltaic market, but the theoretical efficiency limit of their single-junction cells is close to 29%. In contrast, perovskite materials have become the core direction of the next generation of photovoltaic technology due to their adjustable band gap, high light absorption coefficient, and low processing cost. The perovskite/crystalline silicon tandem structure breaks through the efficiency bottleneck of single-junction cells, with a theoretical conversion efficiency of up to 43%, setting off a new wave of change in the photovoltaic industry.
Since 2014, Trina Solar has been making forward-looking plans for perovskite tandem cell technology, cooperating with Nanjing University, Nankai University, Chinese Academy of Sciences and other scientific research institutions to undertake national key R&D programs and science and technology support projects in Jiangsu Province, and has applied for a total of 331 related patents in the past ten years.
The 210 standard-size perovskite/crystalline silicon tandem module released this time, with an area of 3.1 square meters, adopts the core technologies of perovskite phase doping, interface optimization and composite layer structure design independently developed by Trina Solar, which not only achieves efficient and stable operation in the laboratory, but also meets industrial production standards, laying the foundation for large-scale commercial application.
Picture: 800W+! Trina Solar's perovskite tandem cell module was born
2. Industry Transformation: Towards the Era of Efficient Laminated Components
The photovoltaic industry is facing "double high challenges" - high efficiency demand and high-cost pressure. How to improve module conversion efficiency while reducing the cost of electricity (LCOE) is the core of enterprise competition. The advent of perovskite/crystalline silicon tandem modules provides the industry with an efficient and economical solution.
Industry analysts believe that perovskite tandem technology may become the mainstream direction of the next generation of photovoltaic cells. At present, international leading companies such as First Solar (US) and Oxford PV (UK) are accelerating the commercialization process of tandem cells, and Trina Solar's 800W+ modules are the first to achieve industrial-grade standardized production, which undoubtedly further consolidates the competitive advantage of Chinese PV companies in the global market.
According to the International Energy Agency (IEA), the global installed PV capacity is expected to reach 350GW in 2024, of which the Chinese market accounts for more than 50%. As tandem module technology matures, it is expected that by 2030, more than 40% of the new installed capacity of the global PV market will be stacked technology. Trina Solar's breakthrough not only pushes the company itself to move towards the high-end market, but also provides a clear development path for the entire industry.
3. Global competition: Technological innovation is reshaping the market landscape
The competition in the photovoltaic market has entered the stage of "technology leadership" from "scale expansion", and the core of competition between enterprises is shifting from capacity competition to technological innovation and product performance. Against this backdrop, Trina Solar's leading tandem cell technology has seized the global market and created more possibilities for the company's future growth.
Gao Jifan, Chairman and CEO of Trina Solar, said: "The successful preparation of the world's first 210 standard industrial size 800W+ perovskite/crystalline silicon tandem module not only represents the company's breakthrough in cutting-edge technology, but also means that the photovoltaic industry has officially entered the era of high-efficiency lamination.”
The impact of this achievement will not only be limited to Trina Solar, but will also accelerate the R&D of other PV companies in the tandem cell field. It is expected that in the next three years, the world's major PV companies will continue to increase investment in material optimization, process improvement, mass production and cost reduction, etc., to further promote the commercial application of tandem modules.
4. Global Energy Transition: Efficient PV Contributes to Carbon Neutrality Goals
Driven by the goal of "carbon neutrality", the demand for renewable energy continues to grow. As one of the most promising clean energy sources, the improvement of solar energy conversion efficiency is crucial to the transformation of the global energy structure.
According to the International Renewable Energy Agency (IRENA), by 2050, the cumulative installed capacity of PV in the world will exceed 14TW, becoming the world's largest source of electricity. The popularity of high-efficiency photovoltaic modules will directly affect the stability of the power grid, the security of energy supply and the cost of electricity.
Trina Solar's 800W+ tandem modules not only improve the return on investment of PV power plants, but also effectively reduce carbon emissions per unit of electricity generated, providing a better solution for global sustainable development. It is expected that this technology will be widely used in centralized ground power stations, distributed photovoltaic projects and BIPV building photovoltaic integration in the next 5-10 years, and become an important force to promote the global energy revolution.
5. Conclusion
Trina Solar's world's first 210 standard industrial size 800W+ perovskite/crystalline silicon tandem module is not only a symbol of the company's technological innovation capability, but also represents a key node for the global photovoltaic industry to enter the era of high-efficiency tandem.
With the continuous optimization of perovskite tandem technology and the advancement of large-scale production, we have reason to believe that the photovoltaic industry will achieve a breakthrough in efficiency and cost in the next decade. This revolutionary progress will push the global energy transition onto a more efficient and sustainable development trajectory, and help human society move towards a low-carbon future.
