Our new project for increasingly efficient solar cells wins Horizon Europe funding
The European Commission has approved a project involving Enel Green Power for the development of innovation in the production of new high-performance photovoltaic cells using Tandem HJT/Perovskite technology, thanks in part to research conducted at our 3SUN factory.
The European Commission has recently given the green light to an agreement to finance the NEXUS project, which will also involve Enel Green Power, focused on the development of innovative processes for Tandem HJT/Perovskite technology for the production of sustainable and high-performance photovoltaic modules.
Coordinated by the University of Oxford, the NEXUS project is supported by a multidisciplinary consortium with 12 partners from 9 European countries; 5 industrial partners, including 2 small and medium-sized enterprises (SMEs); and 7 research and technology organizations. It will speed up Europe’s transition to clean energy thanks to the development of Tandem perovskite-silicon technology, in line with the new European paradigm. This project uses a global approach to the eco-compatible design of photovoltaic systems based on sustainability and circularity, with the goal of reusing a large quantity of materials across the entire value chain. This type of innovation will improve energy yield and costs, helping ensure a clean energy transition and a reduction in the EU’s dependence on raw materials supplied from outside Europe.
Cells that produce more energy
The goal of NEXUS, which is part of the EU’s Horizon EUROPE framework program for research and innovation for the period 2021-2027, is specifically to develop bifacial heterojunction (HJT) photovoltaic cells that capture more solar light by using both sides of the cell, and to incorporate the “Tandem” structure, which utilizes two overlapping cells, thereby making it possible to capture more light compared to single cell structures. This combination enables photovoltaic modules to achieve an average increase in energy production of more than a third compared to current market standards, with efficiency levels exceeding 30%.
The role of 3SUN
The project to build the 3Sun Gigafactory has recently received funding from the European Commission in Brussels. In this way, 3Sun will be become the largest site in Europe for the production of photovoltaic panels, thereby increasing local employment, both directly and indirectly, by creating more than a thousand jobs by 2024.
By being part of the NEXUS project, and focusing on increasingly challenging objectives, we are leveraging technological innovation in order to give new life to Europe’s photovoltaic industry.