A crystalline silicon–perovskite tandem solar cell has achieved a certified efficiency of 33.9%, breaching the Shockley–Queisser limit of 33.7% and opening a new chapter for renewable energy technology.
Traditional silicon solar cells are limited by fundamental physics in how much sunlight they can convert into electricity. This latest innovation overcomes that barrier by layering an ultra-thin perovskite cell atop a conventional silicon cell, forming what’s known as a tandem solar cell. This structure allows each layer to absorb different wavelengths of sunlight, vastly improving overall energy capture.
The result is more than just a marginal gain - it’s a redefinition of what solar technology can achieve. The efficiency milestone, published in Nature and highlighted by the World Economic Forum, suggests that solar panels can now deliver significantly more power from the same surface area.
Higher-efficiency solar cells bring immediate and transformative benefits:
Reduced land requirements for solar farms
Lower raw material consumption per watt of output
Cheaper electricity generation, making renewables more competitive
Broader deployment possibilities, including space-constrained urban environments
These gains are crucial for scaling up clean energy systems globally, particularly as nations aim for net-zero targets and increasingly ambitious climate goals.
Importantly, this isn’t just a laboratory milestone - it signals a viable path for next-generation commercial solar panels. Perovskite–silicon tandem cells are on track to revolutionize how solar power is harvested, offering higher output from the same or even smaller physical footprints.
As the global energy transition accelerates, breakthroughs like this provide vital technological leverage. They show that solar energy still has untapped potential and that rapid innovation continues to push the boundaries of what’s possible.
This achievement is a reminder that solar technology remains far from its limits. Perovskite-silicon tandem technology could enable solar panels that generate significantly more power from the same footprint as today's installations. With tandem cell designs showing enormous promise, the path to more efficient, cost-effective, and widely deployable solar energy is clearer than ever.
The breakthrough was achieved by Chinese solar manufacturer LONGi Green Energy Technology, setting a new industry benchmark.