Dutch consortium develops manufacturing technology for perovskite solar cells

Challenging scale-up

The Perovision Project focuses on perovskite solar cells, which are considered the next generation in solar technology, thanks to their high efficiency, low production cost and flexibility.

However, scaling up the manufacturing process for perovskite solar cells to an industrial scale has proven challenging, hampering the widespread adoption of the innovation. The Perovision project seeks to overcome some of these challenges.

Step to mass customisation

The Perovision Project is directed at the development of a pilot-scale spatial ALD process for NiOx layers in a perovskite solar cell. NiOx improves both the efficiency, reliability and stability of perovskite solar cells but is difficult to produce with high quality at an industrial scale.

Spatial ALD enables the deposition of NiOx with atomic precision at high throughput. This combination of precision and speed is crucial for commercial viability, as it ensures both the quality and cost-effectiveness needed for large-scale production of perovskite solar cells.

Partners with own expertise

The consortium brings together complementary expertise from three leading organisations. TNO will play a key role in material characterisation and process optimisation. "We are excited to contribute our expertise in thin-film development to help refine the spatial ALD process for perovskite solar cells," said Harald Kerp, Senior Business Developer at TNO. "By ensuring high-quality layer deposition, we can accelerate the adoption and strengthen the Dutch ALD industrial ecosystem."

Diederick Spee, CEO of Kalpana Systems says: "We are committed to pushing technologies into practise that accelerate the energy transition. Our spatial ALD system provides a scalable, cost-effective solution for producing high-quality nickel oxide layers, bringing perovskite solar cells closer to mainstream adoption."

HyETSolar, a leader in flexible thin-film photovoltaics, sees this project as an enabling technology development for flexible perovskite roll-to-roll production. "Kalpana Systems' technology will enable us to manufacture perovskite modules at industrial scale," said Thierry de Vrijer, Director of Technology of HyETSolar. "This is a crucial step towards making lightweight, flexible perovskite solar panels viable for large-scale applications."

Large-scale production from 2030 onwards

The project runs from February 2025 to January 2027, targeting integration into HyETSolar's production line by mid-2027 and full-scale production by 2030.