Enel Green Power is taking part in an EU-backed project to research new applications for a versatile material called graphene that boosts the efficiency of solar cells.
The Grapes (Graphene Integrated Perovskite Silicon Tandem Solar Cells) alliance between academic and industrial research is fundamental to accelerating the energy transition, the Italian company said.
Marina Foti, who is head of the project for Enel Green Power and has worked for many years at the 3SUN factory in Catania, is also leading Grapes.
Graphene, which comprises a single layer (monolayer) of carbon atoms, is a versatile material with applications in a wide variety of fields such electronics, sensors, aeronautics and, of course, photovoltaics, Enel said.
Grapes is working specifically on using graphene, which has the same theoretical strength as a diamond and the flexibility of plastic, to integrate silicone and perovskite cells.
Foti said: “Silicone cells have at a theoretical efficiency limit of 29% and a practical one of 26-27%.”
The technology required to exceed these limits is a tandem or multi-junction cell in which two cells are overlapped with each one converting a different part of the solar spectrum into energy.
The silicone cell converts the red end of the light spectrum into energy while the perovskite absorbs the blue and green part, thereby boosting efficiency, Enel said.
“Graphene can optimise performances and reduce costs: indeed, researchers are attempting to use it to replace all or part of the more expensive silver used in conductive adhesive,” it said.
Foti added: “The challenge is to take a quite unstable material to the industrial phase, while being aware that a panel has to maintain the same performance levels for 30 years.”
Enel said the results should benefit the whole photovoltaic sector.