An undisclosed U.S. utility-scale solar project will be the first in the world to use Oxford PV’s perovskite tandem solar panels. The UK-based company announced the first customer of its commercialized perovskite-silicon solar panels today.
The 72-cell panels can produce up to 20% more energy than standard silicon panels, the company claims. Oxford PV has been developing processes to commercialize perovskite tandem panels since 2014 and recently reached a module efficiency record of 26.9%. These first Oxford PV panels on the market have a 24.5% module efficiency.
“The commercialization of this technology is a breakthrough for the energy industry. High-efficiency technologies are the future of the solar industry, and that future is starting now,” said David Ward, CEO of Oxford PV. “Solar innovation will allow us to faster electrify and decarbonize our transportation, homes, and industries. With more electricity generation from the same area, perovskite technology is now helping utilities speed up this transition by offering more energy at a lower cost.”
In the coming years, the Oxford PV plans to allocate production from its megawatt-scale facility in Brandenburg an der Havel, Germany, toward additional utility customers, specialty products and pilot residential applications.
News item from Oxford PV
Given the relatively small amounts of lead used by the PV industry, and the fact that the lead is enclosed entirely within the module materials, it is unlikely that PV products by themselves would be the cause of major lead pollution, even in a worst-case scenario with a large percentage of panels ending up in landfill. “Shingled panels, including SunPower Performance panels, utilize conventional solder paste,” notes Casey Riscoe, sustainability manager at U.S. module maker SunPower. “We tested these panels to confirm their levels of lead are extremely low, contained within a sealed environment, and the panels have demonstrated in USA TCLP testing that they do not leach into the surrounding environment.” Toxicity characteristic leaching procedure (TCLP) testing aims to simulate environmental leaching in landfill, and in the United States is a factor in determining hazardous waste requirements. (MARK HUTCHINS)
Kelly Pickerel is correct. Actually, you all are. But, the leakage found is well within strict limitations.
If history is any guide (which it always is) then synthetic, lead free Perovskite will become the standard once the prime, high yield variation is nailed down. With regards to soldering practices, HJT, IBC, ECA are the new norms in mass production. Prior to our last election, I would say Expect government guidelines to come in waves. Now, I would regrettably say that lead leakage is going to be low amongst our planetary worries.
Stay safe.
I wonder why there is no mention or discussion of the lead content of these solar panels. Even if it iis small… are these panels going to be placed near farms or gardens, water supplies and so on. We don’t want to back into a lead problem, and associate solar with lead pollution. Please consider digging into this.
Chemicals do not leak out of solar panels.
Perovskite degrades over time and the lead leaks out. But solar cells do encapsulate it. The risk is that won’t work all the time. Esp. when recycling.
So it’s a question of how to proportionally manage that risk. Claiming the risk doesn’t exist is as bad as overreacting to it.