The European Union has launched the PEARL project, a cutting-edge initiative designed to improve the performance and durability of perovskite solar cells. With funding from the Horizon Europe program, the project focuses on incorporating carbon electrodes into the solar cell architecture to enhance efficiency, stability, and cost-effectiveness. PEARL aims to reach efficiency levels over 25%, while significantly reducing production costs, making solar energy more sustainable and accessible.

Perovskite solar cells have shown promise, with their efficiency jumping from 4% to over 20% in recent years. However, challenges such as instability and degradation have limited their commercial application. The PEARL project addresses these issues, aiming to develop flexible solar cells that maintain high performance while meeting stringent International Electrotechnical Commission (IEC) standards for long-term stability.

Key to this advancement is the use of carbon electrodes, which are expected to lower material costs and emissions. The solar cells will be produced using scalable roll-to-roll technology, making them suitable for applications in building-integrated photovoltaics, vehicle-integrated systems, and the Internet of Things. The project is also committed to minimizing the environmental impact, targeting emissions of less than 0.01 kg CO2eq/kWh.

The PEARL consortium comprises ten European partners, including leading research institutions and companies. The project is set to run for 36 months, starting in October 2023. According to Dr. Riikka Suhonen, PEARL’s coordinator, the project will lay the groundwork for the next generation of solar power, driving global sustainability efforts.

For more information, visit www.pearl-project.eu.

Find the original press release here.