You’ve probably heard the term perovskite in relation to solar tech. It’s being billed by many researchers as one of the most exciting developments since the crystalline silicon solar cell. But where are we today, in terms of efficiency, durability, and commercial availability? Here’s what Solar-Mobility’s latest dive turned up.
What Is Perovskite Anyway?
Perovskites are a class of materials defined by a particular crystal structure; in solar photovoltaic (PV) science they usually refer to hybrid halide perovskites that can absorb light very well, produced using relatively low-temperature processes. They offer prospects of:
- high light absorption
- tunable bandgaps (meaning you can adjust what kind of solar spectrum they harvest)
- potentially lower production cost compared to silicon (because they can be made thinner, with simpler deposition processes)
But, perovskites also bring challenges: stability (especially with moisture, heat, UV exposure), longevity, and sometimes toxicity (lead content).
Efficiency: How Good They Are Now
Recent advances are impressive:
- The University of Science and Technology of China (USTC) set a new single-junction perovskite record of 26.7% certified efficiency. en.ustc.edu.cn+1
- At the National University of Singapore, an inverted perovskite cell of 1 cm² reached 24.35% efficiency. ScienceDaily+2pv magazine International+2
- Tandem configurations (stacking perovskite on silicon) are achieving even higher numbers: for example, 33.7% or more in lab settings. pv magazine International+2pvtime.org+2
These numbers are closing the gap with high-end silicon cells, especially where space, weight, or performance per area matter.
Longevity & Stability: The Real Test
Despite high efficiency in labs, keeping perovskite cells stable under real-world conditions is the harder part. Some of the top concerns: degradation from moisture, heat, UV light, structural defects, and chemical instability.
Here’s where the research stands:
- New protective coatings (for example from Northwestern University) have significantly improved durability. In one test, a cell with a robust protective layer retained 90% of its initial efficiency after 1,100 hours under heat and light stress. ScienceDaily
- Outdoor field tests in Cyprus and Belgium (mini-modules) showed that after one year the best perovskite modules retained about 78% of their initial efficiency. pv magazine International
- In many cases, devices degrade faster in the early “burn-in” period (first months) before stabilizing somewhat. pv magazine International
In comparison, many commercial silicon panels are expected to retain 80–90% of their output over 20+ years. Perovskite has not yet matched that, but progress is accelerating.
Can You Buy Perovskite Solar Modules Yet?
As of today:
- There are small companies and research startups making pilot perovskite modules and panels. Some are focusing on tandem silicon+perovskite modules.
- A recent example: Mellow Energy has announced a 30×30 cm perovskite module with certified efficiency of ~24.36%. perovskite-info.com
- But large scale, long-warranty commercial panels (with decades of guaranteed lifetime) are still rare. Many products are still at the R&D, pilot or early commercialization stage.
So, yes — you can buy perovskite-based solar tech in limited form, but mainstream availability with high durability, price competitiveness, and warranties comparable to silicon panels is still being built out.
What Needs to Be Solved Before Perovskite Can Go Mainstream
Here are key open hurdles:
- Long-term stability under real life: heat, humidity, UV exposure.
- Degradation rates: how fast do they lose efficiency in real outdoor settings?
- Encapsulation / protection: finding materials and designs that protect perovskite without adding excessive cost or complexity.
- Scale / manufacturing: being able to produce large panels/modules reliably. What works in glass slide lab tests must be scaled.
- Toxicity / environmental impact: many perovskites contain lead; safe handling, recycling, or lead-free versions are important.
So Where Are We “Today,” for Solar Mobility Users?
For Solar-Mobility, perovskite tech looks promising:
- If you need high power per area (e.g., for solar bikes, small mobile arrays, rooftop panels where space is tight), perovskite or tandem modules could provide superior performance.
- If you travel, or operate in harsh conditions (heat, dust, humidity), you’ll want to ensure the panels/modules you buy are tested for stability (look for >1 year outdoor testing, not just lab slides).
- For now, silicon remains the more proven solution in terms of durability and cost per watt (especially where warranties of 20-25 years matter). But perovskite is catching up fast.
Conclusion: Are Perovskites Ready for You?
Yes — in part. If you’re an early adopter, tech enthusiast, or working on projects where weight, size, or efficiency per area are more critical than decades-long guarantees, perovskite is already a viable option.
For those wanting long life and maximum reliability, or for more “rugged” applications in solar mobility, not yet.