Next-Generation Solar Cells, the 'Game Changer' in the Solar Industry... Government Pledges Active Support for Leading Next-Generation Technologies

'Next-Generation Solar Cell Early Commercialization TF' Meeting

The government has decided to strengthen support for next-generation solar cells, regarded as a 'game changer' that will transform the solar power industry landscape.

The Ministry of Trade, Industry and Energy held a meeting of the 'Next-Generation Solar Cell Early Commercialization Task Force (TF)' on the 14th, chaired by Lee Ho-hyun, Director of the Energy Policy Office, with participation from related industries, academia, and specialized institutions to discuss strategies for technology development and early commercialization of next-generation solar cells.

This consultative body was formed to enhance industrial technology competitiveness by securing promising future technologies amid the current situation where the dominance of certain countries is expanding across the entire solar value chain and price competitiveness is deteriorating due to oversupply.

An official from the Ministry of Trade, Industry and Energy explained, "Tandem-type next-generation solar cells have emerged as the next-generation technology to break through limits, as the efficiency of crystalline silicon solar cells, which currently dominate the market, is approaching the mass production limit efficiency (27%) at around 25-26%." He added, "Tandem cells are a technology that maximizes theoretical limit efficiency (potential efficiency 44%) and stability by forming a dual junction of electrically conductive perovskite on top of crystalline silicon, allowing silicon and perovskite to absorb light in different wavelength regions."

Accordingly, countries around the world such as the UK, Germany, and China are competing to develop next-generation solar cells like ultra-high-efficiency tandem cells, which are promising technologies for securing future markets. Domestic companies are also fiercely competing to commercialize large-area tandem cells.

This meeting was convened to discuss technology development and early commercialization strategies for next-generation solar cells after several working-level meetings following the kickoff meeting in January.

As detailed tasks, the plan is to promote goal-oriented technology development across the value chain including cells, modules, and materials to develop core technologies for next-generation solar cells. Through a public-private consultative body, mission-oriented projects will be planned to systematically advance technology development, and a collaborative R&D infrastructure among companies will be established using shared corporate utilization centers.

Furthermore, early commercialization will be supported through demonstration and pilot projects for next-generation solar cells, and overseas expansion strategies will be explored through international joint research and international standardization with leading solar cell technology countries.

Director Lee, who chaired the meeting, stated, "Next-generation solar cells are a game changer that can change the paradigm of the global solar industry and can provide a technical solution to achieve renewable energy deployment goals in countries with limited land like ours." He added, "The government will actively support domestic companies to secure next-generation technologies amid the global technology competition environment."