New Efficiency World Record for Organic Solar Modules

Jülich / Erlangen-Nürnberg, 11 November 2019 – A research team from Nuremberg and Erlangen has set a new record for the power conversion efficiency of organic photovoltaic modules (OPV). The scientists from Friedrich-Alexander Universität Erlangen-Nürnberg (FAU), the Bavarian Center for Applied Energy Research (ZAE), and the Helmholtz Institute Erlangen-Nürnberg for Renewable Energy (HI ERN), a branch of Forschungszentrum Jülich, in cooperation with the South China University of Technology (SCUT), designed an OPV module with an efficiency of 12.6 percent over an area of 26 square centimeters. The former world record of 9.7 percent was exceeded by 30 percent.

Organisches Rekord-Solarmodul
Dr. Andreas Distler (ZAE Bayern) mit dem organischen Rekord-Solarmodul in der Solarfabrik der Zukunft neben der Pilotlinie für Dünnschicht-Photovoltaik
ZAE/Kurt Fuchs

This is the highest efficiency value ever reported for an organic photovoltaic module. It was confirmed by a certified calibrated measurement under standard testing conditions by the independent certification laboratory of Fraunhofer ISE (Freiburg) in September 2019. The multi-cell module was developed at the Solar Factory of the Future at the Energie Campus Nürnberg (EnCN) in a coating laboratory with a unique megawatt pilot line for thin-film photovoltaics, which was designed and implemented with financial support by the Bavarian Ministry of Economic Affairs.

“This breakthrough shows that Bavaria is not only a leader in the advancement of photovoltaic installations, but also occupies a leading position in the development of future technologies,” emphasises Hubert Aiwanger, Bavarian State Minister of Economic Affairs, Regional Development and Energy.

Organic solar cells usually consist of two different organic components, possessing the necessary semiconductor properties. In contrast to conventionally used silicon, which is manufactured by energy-intensive melting processes, organic materials can be applied directly from solutions onto a carrier film or glass carrier.

On the one hand, this reduces manufacturing costs, on the other hand, the use of flexible, lightweight materials allows for new applications, such as mobile devices or clothing, even if the efficiency is not yet comparable to that of traditional silicon solar cells.
“This milestone in organic semiconductor research shows that the latest performance developments with certified cell efficiencies of over 16 percent are not limited to the laboratory scale, but ready to be scaled up to the level of prototype modules,” explains Prof. Christoph Brabec from FAU, director at HI ERN, and scientific director of the Solar Factory of the Future, a research group of ZAE Bayern.

Due to their design, the efficiency of complete photovoltaic modules is always slightly lower than that of individual cells. A part of the module area, for example, is always inactive since it is used for the interconnection of the individual cells. With an increasing module area, the losses caused by the electrodes’ electrical resistance increase as well.

The record module consists of twelve serially connected cells and has a geometric fill factor of over 95 percent. This part of the module area actively contributes to the power generation. With respect to its active area, the module even achieves an efficiency of 13.2 percent. The minimisation of inactive areas was achieved through high-resolution laser structuring, as developed and optimised in recent years at the “Solar Factory of the Future”.

Technical data:

Module area

26.129 cm

2

(+/- 0.026 cm

2

)

Power conversion efficiency (PCE)

12.60 % (+/- 0.19 %)

Open-circuit voltage (V

oc

)

9.978 V (+/- 0.04 V)

Short-circuit current (I

sc

)

46.43 mA (+/- 0.65mA)

Fill factor (FF)

71.06 % (+/- 0.38 %)

Interconnection

series of 12 cells

Geometric fill factor (GFF)

> 95,5 %

PCE with respect to the active area of the module

13.2 %

Kennlinie:

Organisches Solarmodul Messung
Messung des organischen Rekord-Solarmoduls durchgeführt vom unabhängigen Zertifizierungslabor des Fraunhofer ISE.

Weiterführende Informationen:

Helmholtz Institute Erlangen-Nürnberg for Renewable Energy (HI ERN)

About ZAE

ZAE Bayern is a non-university institute for applied energy research with about 180 employees, institutionally funded by the Bavarian Ministry of Economic Affairs, Regional Development and Energy. In its central fields of expertise, renewable energies, energy storage, and energy efficiency, ZAE Bayern combines materials research, development of components, and system optimisation in an interdisciplinary approach. ZAE’s researchers work, among other things, on thermal and electrochemical energy storages, energy efficiency in processes, energetically optimised buildings, photovoltaics, nanomaterials, smart grids, and cross-sector energy systems (electricity and heat/cold). With its two main locations in Würzburg and Garching near Munich and, as well as its branches in Nuremberg and Hof, ZAE Bayern is present statewide and offers complete innovation packages to its customers when it comes to efficient and sustainable energy systems. For further information visit www.zae-bayern.de.

About Friedrich-Alexander-Universität Erlangen-Nürnberg

Friedrich-Alexander-Universität Erlangen-Nürnberg (FAU), established in 1743, is one of the largest universities in Germany, with approximately 38,000 students, 580 professors and more than 14,000 members of staff. In addition to the Cluster of Excellence 'Engineering of Advanced Materials' (EAM) and the Graduate School of Advanced Optical Technologies (SAOT), which was founded as part of the Excellence Initiative, FAU currently has more than 40 coordinated programmes funded by the German Research Foundation (DFG).

FAU offers around 260 degree programmes, including eight Bavarian Elite Master's degree programmes and around 50 programmes with a distinct international focus. No other German university offers such a broad and interdisciplinary range of subjects on all qualification levels. FAU students enjoy global mobility thanks to partnerships with higher education institutions throughout the world.

About Forschungszentrum Jülich

Forschungszentrum Jülich makes a vital contribution to solving major challenges facing society in the fields of information, energy, and bioeconomy. It focuses on the future of information technologies and information processing, complex processes in the human brain, the transformation of the energy system, and a sustainable bioeconomy. Forschungszentrum Jülich develops simulation and data sciences as a key research method and makes use of large, often unique, scientific infrastructures. Its work spans a range of topics and disciplines and it exploits synergies between the research areas.With some 6,000 employees, Jülich–a member of the Helmholtz Association–is one of Europe's large research centres.

Contacts:

Dr. Hans-Joachim Egelhaaf
i-MEET & ZAE
Tel: 0911-56854-9350
Email: hans-joachim.egelhaaf@zae-bayern.de

Dr. Jens Hauch
Helmholtz Institute Erlangen-Nürnberg for Renewable Energy (HI ERN), Forschungszentrum Jülich
Tel: +49 9131 9398-333
Email: j.hauch@fz-juelich.de

Press contact:

Tobias Schlößer
Press Officer, Corporate Communications
Tel: +49 2461 61-4771
Email: t.schloesser@fz-juelich.de

Last Modified: 15.12.2023