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Perovskite batteries, as a new energy storage technology, are at the forefront of energy innovation. After years of technical accumulation and breakthroughs, perovskite batteries have achieved significant progress in the photovoltaic industry. Recent global research and development efforts have driven continuous improvements in their efficiency. This article discusses policy support for the development of perovskite batteries in China, the current state of the industry, competitive landscape, and future trends.
Overview of perovskite batteries
Perovskite batteries use materials with a perovskite structure as the primary active material. Perovskite refers to compounds with a perovskite crystal structure. Discovered by German scientist Gustav Rose in 1839, perovskite was first applied to photovoltaic cells in 2006.
In 2009, Japanese scientist Miyasaka pioneered the use of perovskite materials in dye-sensitized solar cells, achieving a 3.8% photovoltaic conversion efficiency. In October 2021, the Ulsan National Institute of Science and Technology in South Korea achieved a 25.8% efficiency with single-junction perovskite cells, and in August 2022, the Semiconductor Research Institute of the Chinese Academy of Sciences achieved a 25.6% efficiency.
In October 2020, the U.S. Department of Energy's National Renewable Energy Laboratory reported a 23.1% efficiency for all-perovskite tandem cells, while the research group led by Tan Hairen at Nanjing University in China achieved over 28.0%. In December 2020, Oxford PV in the UK reported a 29.5% efficiency for perovskite/silicon tandem cells.
In November 2021, the Helmholtz Center in Germany increased this to 29.8%, and in July 2022, the Swiss Federal Institute of Technology in Lausanne achieved 31.3%.
On November 3, 2023, the latest certification report from the U.S. National Renewable Energy Laboratory (NREL) showed that the perovskite-silicon tandem cells developed by the Chinese photovoltaic company LONGi Green Energy Technology Co., Ltd. reached 33.9%, setting a new global record for efficiency in silicon-perovskite tandem cells.
Development policies for perovskite batteries
As a representative of the third-generation non-silicon thin-film batteries, energy storage systems of perovskite batteries offer advantages such as high photovoltaic conversion efficiency, low cost, low energy consumption, and wide application scenarios. In recent years, they have received strong support from Chinese and local policies.
In January 2023, six departments, including the Ministry of Industry and Information Technology of China, proposed the coordinated development of perovskite batteries (including perovskite/silicon tandem cells), amorphous silicon/microcrystalline silicon/polycrystalline silicon thin-film batteries, and compound thin-film batteries. The development of BIPV components, marine and automotive components, outdoor products, and other applications is encouraged.
In November 2023, the Ministry of Industry and Information Technology and other five departments proposed advanced photovoltaic products, including high-efficiency crystalline silicon solar cells (with conversion efficiencies above 25%), perovskite and tandem solar cells, advanced thin-film solar cells, and related high-quality, high-reliability, low-cost equipment and materials.
In March 2024, the General Office of the People's Government of Henan Province, China, proposed focusing on the development of crystalline silicon photovoltaic cell materials and compound thin films, developing large-size single-crystal silicon, polycrystalline silicon solar silicon materials, polycrystalline silicon thin films, and researching new high-efficiency perovskite battery materials and copper indium gallium selenide thin-film battery materials, creating an integrated “silane—particle silicon—single-crystal silicon wafer—cell—module—power station” industry chain.
In the future, China will continue to play a regulatory and guiding role, supported by the Chinese Photovoltaic Association, which will continue to improve perovskite industry standards and technical specifications, leading to a more comprehensive industry structure and potential rapid market growth.
Current status of perovskite battery industry
Currently, emerging perovskite battery companies in China are proliferating, and the industrialization process of perovskite batteries is advancing. Perovskite technology is still in its early stages of industrialization, with ongoing iterations in battery structures, material systems, fabrication processes, and production equipment. Perovskite battery manufacturers are actively validating technical directions and accelerating the mass production process of perovskite batteries.
According to statistics, in 2023, China’s perovskite battery production capacity increased by approximately 0.5GW, mainly from the successful completion of the 150MW perovskite photovoltaic module project by Renshinuo Solar Energy and the large-scale trial production line of 200MW printable mesoscopic perovskite solar cells by Wandu Solar Energy.
Perovskite batteries are at a critical point of commercialization. Data shows that in 2023, the penetration rate of perovskite batteries in China was approximately 0.2%. As perovskite battery technology continues to improve, the penetration rate in China is expected to grow.
Currently, the photovoltaic conversion efficiency of mainstream crystalline silicon solar cells is nearing the theoretical ceiling of 29.4%. Under theoretical limits, the maximum conversion efficiencies of crystalline silicon solar cells, PERC single-crystal silicon cells, HJT cells, and TOPcon cells are 29.40%, 24.50%, 27.50%, and 28.70%, respectively.
In contrast, single-junction perovskite cells have a theoretical maximum conversion efficiency of 31%, and multi-junction perovskite cells have a theoretical maximum efficiency of 45%, significantly higher than the 29.4% of silicon cells. The achievable engineering limit efficiency is 27.1%, and the mass production efficiency is 24.2%.
The laboratory maximum efficiency for single-junction perovskite cells is 25.7%, with a theoretical efficiency reaching 31%, while the theoretical efficiency for tandem perovskite cells reaches 45%, indicating substantial potential for improvement as perovskite technology matures.
Competitive landscape of perovskite batteries
Currently, the global research and industrialization process for perovskite batteries is accelerating. Research teams and companies in the U.S., China, and Europe are continuously improving perovskite battery performance through material innovation, process optimization, and system integration.
In China, perovskite battery manufacturers can be divided into listed companies and non-listed companies. Listed companies include industry leaders such as CATL, LONGi Green Energy, Trina Solar, JA Solar, Hangxiao Steel Structure, and Baoxing Technology, many of which have a background in silicon cells and are focusing on perovskite/silicon tandem cells.
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Non-listed companies include GCL-Poly, Xianer Optoelectronics, Dazheng Micro-Nano, Jidian Energy, Wandu Solar Energy, Wuxi Optoelectronics, Renshinuo Solar Energy, Infinite Optoelectronics, and Pulse Energy, focusing on single-junction perovskite cells as their main industrialization direction.
At present, perovskite batteries are transitioning from the laboratory to industrialization. Listed companies in the perovskite battery industry are mainly in the laboratory research and pilot line construction stages. In terms of product routes, perovskite batteries can be divided into single-junction cells and tandem cells.
Most listed companies are pursuing the tandem development route, with LONGi Green Energy, Trina Solar, and Hangxiao Steel Structure focusing on the development of perovskite/silicon tandem solar cells. JinkoSolar is investing in Topcon/perovskite tandem solar cells, while Baoxing Technology is concentrating on perovskite/heterojunction tandem cells technology development and industrial transformation.
Future trends in the perovskite battery industry
The affordability and high tolerance to defects of perovskite battery materials provide significant cost control advantages for perovskite batteries, enhancing their market competitiveness. In the future, as perovskite battery production efficiency continues to improve, the cost of perovskite components is expected to decrease further.
With the successful commissioning of production lines by companies like Xianer Optoelectronics and GCL-Poly, global perovskite battery production capacity is estimated to be around 2.11GW in 2023, and is projected to reach approximately 158GW by 2030, corresponding to market sizes of 360 RMB and 95 RMB, respectively.
Conclusion
In the future, the perovskite battery market is expected to show a sustained growth trend. Flexible perovskite batteries, with their unique advantages, are likely to become mainstream products in differentiated application scenarios such as photovoltaic building integration (e.g., windows, building facades), flexible applications (e.g., flexible displays, wearable clothing, tents, portable power sources), and other portable devices.
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