Sunovia claims dramatic increase in CdTe thin- film performance

Facebook
Twitter
LinkedIn
Reddit
Email

Although yet to be independently verified, Sunovia Energy Technologies and partner EPIR Technologies have claimed a dramatic increase in the performance of cadmium telluride (CdTe) based solar cells. According to the company it has shattered the previous world record for open circuit voltage (Voc) readings by 45%. Sunovia said that an open circuit voltages of 1.34 V and 1.75 V were achieved with a single-junction and two-junction configurations, respectively.

The 1.34 V value for the single-junction cell was more than 95% of the theoretical upper limit for the II-VI alloy used. Sunovia said that the highest reported Voc for a CdTe solar cell was 0.91 V, representing about 76% of the theoretical maximum for CdTe. The partners claimed that its two-junction II-VI cell would reach production efficiencies over 35%.

This article requires Premium SubscriptionBasic (FREE) Subscription

Unlock unlimited access for 12 whole months of distinctive global analysis

Photovoltaics International is now included.

  • Regular insight and analysis of the industry’s biggest developments
  • In-depth interviews with the industry’s leading figures
  • Unlimited digital access to the PV Tech Power journal catalogue
  • Unlimited digital access to the Photovoltaics International journal catalogue
  • Access to more than 1,000 technical papers
  • Discounts on Solar Media’s portfolio of events, in-person and virtual

Or continue reading this article for free

“These are by far the highest Voc measurements ever exhibited by a CdTe-based solar cell. There is no data in the literature that comes close to what we have achieved, and we believe that our two-junction device also represents the first ever high efficiency monolithic, two-junction solar cell using CdTe or any other II-VI material,” noted Dr. Michael Carmody, Senior Director for Development of Photovoltaic Materials at EPIR Technologies. “The company’s two-junction II-VI on Silicon design will reach production efficiencies over 35% and will cost only a small fraction of the cost of three-junction III-V solar cells. Three-junction II-VI on Silicon cells will have even higher production efficiencies without much added cost.”

The partners are expanding their pilot production facilities, and are working to complete the initial 100MW of manufacturing capacity.

Read Next

June 30, 2025
US clean energy developer Clearway Energy Group has received corporate credit facilities over US$1 billion.
June 30, 2025
Australian module manufacturer Tindo Solar has secured a 30MW solar module supply agreement to power Australia's first "net zero pipeline”.
June 27, 2025
Indian solar manufacturer Premier Energies has commissioned its 1.2GW TOPCon solar cell manufacturing line at Fab City, Hyderabad, Telangana.
June 27, 2025
The UK government has decided it will not sign a Contract for Difference (CfD) with Xlinks for the 11.5GW Morroco-UK interconnector project.
June 27, 2025
Renewables investment platform Nexwell Power has signed a round of power purchase agreements (PPAs) with “one of the largest” US tech companies for solar PV capacity to be built in Spain.
June 27, 2025
Statkraft has signed PPAs with Better Energy to purchase energy from two solar power plants in Poland with a total capacity of 64GWh.

Subscribe to Newsletter

Upcoming Events

Upcoming Webinars
June 30, 2025
10am PST / 6pm BST
Solar Media Events
July 1, 2025
London, UK
Solar Media Events
July 1, 2025
London, UK
Media Partners, Solar Media Events
July 2, 2025
Bangkok, Thailand
Media Partners, Solar Media Events
September 2, 2025
Mexico City, Mexico