Hong Kong team develops solar panels at newspaper printing speed

Scientists at the City University of Hong Kong (CityUHK) have achieved a major leap forward in solar technology by mass-producing highly efficient and stable perovskite solar cells at a rate akin to newspaper printing in a groundbreaking development.

China's rapid advancements in solar panel technology are raising concerns in Spain, following recent controversies over the use of antimony in solar panels, Caliber.Az reports citing the foreign media.

As solar photovoltaic energy gains prominence in the global energy transition, this new development from East Asia could have significant implications for Spain's energy strategy.

Solar photovoltaic (PV) technology, which converts sunlight into electricity through the photovoltaic effect, plays a crucial role in mitigating climate change. When sunlight hits a photoelectric cell within the panels, it generates an electrical potential difference, causing electrons to flow and produce an electric current.

Solar energy is increasingly valued for its environmental benefits. Unlike traditional energy sources such as coal, gas, or oil—which are finite and contribute to greenhouse gas emissions—solar energy is both renewable and clean. It does not emit greenhouse gases and offers a sustainable alternative to depleting fossil fuels, which can take millions of years to form again.

The recent advancements in solar technology from China highlight its growing influence in the renewable energy sector, but they also underscore ongoing concerns about the materials used and their environmental impact.

China is gaining ground with solar panels

A team of scientists at City University of Hong Kong (CityUHK) has made a groundbreaking advancement in solar technology by developing a method for mass-printing highly efficient and stable solar cells, akin to the process of newspaper printing. This innovation represents a significant leap towards achieving global sustainability goals.

Led by Professor Alex Jen Kwan-yue, the research team has created printable perovskite solar cells that can be produced at a scale of up to 1,000 panels per day. These cells boast not only high efficiency but also exceptional stability, maintaining over 90% of their initial power conversion efficiency (PCE) after 500 hours of operation.

A notable aspect of these solar cells is their flexibility and semi-transparency, enabling their use in applications such as light-absorbing glass windows. This opens up new possibilities for urban solar farms in cities with high-rise buildings, effectively integrating solar technology into the architectural fabric of modern urban environments.

America trembles at China’s solar panel breakthrough

For over a decade, the stability of broadband perovskite solar cells has been a major challenge. In response, scientists have devised innovative solutions in materials science, including the development of various organic redox mediators. These mediators are designed to selectively reduce iodine and oxidize metals, addressing the long-standing stability issues.

Dr. Wu Shengfan, the lead author of the research, emphasized that this is the first team to apply chemical synthesis and redox systems to tackle the stability problem. The breakthrough research will be translated into practical applications through the start-up company HKTech Solar Limited, managed by Dr. Francis Lin, a postdoctoral student of Professor Alex Jen at CityUHK.

The team’s future plans include establishing a pilot production line in Hong Kong with an annual output of 25 megawatts within the next 18 months. They also aim to launch products for industrial use and seek investors for testing these new applications. As China advances in the mass production of solar panels with these innovations, it poses a significant challenge to American efforts to expand silicon solar panel production.