All Solar Cell Efficiencies at a Glance – Updated

Why It Matters

Open‑access efficiency data accelerates R&D collaboration and informs investors about the rapid gains in silicon, perovskite and tandem technologies, shaping the next wave of solar deployment.

Key Takeaways

• Version 68 adds 21 new efficiency records across cell types
• Longi achieved 28.1% efficiency on a 140 cm² silicon cell
• Perovskite cells reached 28.0% efficiency despite sub‑mm² size
• Tandem cells hit 35.2% (1 cm²) and 34.3% (261 cm²) efficiencies
• Open‑access tables will publish biannually in Joule starting July 2026

Pulse Analysis

The Solar Cell Efficiency Tables have become the gold standard for tracking photovoltaic progress, and their shift to open‑access in Joule marks a watershed for transparency. By removing paywalls, the tables invite a broader audience—from university labs to venture capitalists—to benchmark breakthroughs against a unified dataset. This democratization not only speeds peer validation but also sharpens competitive intelligence across the global PV supply chain.

Version 68 showcases a surge in record‑setting performance. Longi’s 28.1% efficiency on a 140 cm² silicon cell and 26.4% on a 1.9‑m² module demonstrate that large‑area silicon can now approach laboratory‑grade metrics without sacrificing manufacturability. Meanwhile, a 0.05‑cm² lead‑halide perovskite cell hit 28.0%, narrowing the gap with silicon despite its minuscule footprint. These results, measured with edge‑masking protocols, underscore the importance of standardized testing while hinting at real‑world gains once scaling challenges are addressed.

Perhaps most compelling are the tandem and triple‑junction advances. Small‑area perovskite‑silicon tandems reached 35.2% efficiency, and larger 261 cm² cells posted 34.3%, confirming that high‑efficiency stacking is scalable. A 0.08‑m² triple‑junction GaInP/GaInAs/Ge module achieved 34.4% without concentrators, setting a new benchmark for non‑concentrated systems. These milestones signal a shift toward ultra‑high‑efficiency modules that could dramatically lower levelized cost of electricity, making solar more competitive against fossil fuels and accelerating the clean‑energy transition.