Oxford spin-out expands German silicon-perovskite solar cell fab.

The order adds perovskite cell-making equipment to the previously ordered (see below) silicon solar cell production line, and includes development work on both line and process integration, according to Swiss equipment maker Meyer Burger, which is supplying both silicon and perovskite equipment.

Oxford PV’s technology is a tandem cell comprising an under-lying silicon solar cell with a perovskite solar cell built on top to convert the blue end of the spectrum that the silicon cell is not sensitive to.

The silicon cell can convert at 20-22% efficiency, according to Oxford PV, and it expects the perovskite top to push this to around 30% (in 156 x 156mm form) – its cells have already been certified at 28%.

R&D for the form remains in Oxford, while the industrial pilot line is at Brandenburg an der Havel near Berlin.

It received £65m in Series D funding in July, and followed this with the August order to Meyer Burger for a turn-key 100MW silicon solar cell line.

By the end of 2020, Oxford PV intends to have 250MW capacity at the facility.

“Oxford PV’s phased ordering of equipment will continue over the coming months,” said Oxford PV in August. “This will include the order of a second silicon heterojunction solar cell line and associated perovskite top cell production equipment.”

“With our first order placed,” said Oxford PV CEO Frank Averdung in August, “we are well on our journey to becoming the world’s first perovskite-on-silicon tandem solar cell manufacturer. We are delighted to be working with Meyer Burger, a world leading photovoltaic equipment and technology supplier. Building on Meyer Burger’s expertise, we are accelerating the time to market.”