All Solar Cell Efficiencies at a Glance – Updated

Why It Matters

Open‑access efficiency tables accelerate knowledge sharing, while the new record efficiencies signal that silicon and perovskite technologies are nearing performance thresholds that could drive large‑scale adoption and lower solar costs.

Key Takeaways

• Longi set 28.1% efficiency record for 140 cm² silicon cell
• Longi achieved 26.4% efficiency on 1.9 m² silicon module
• Perovskite cell reaches 28.0% efficiency at 0.05 cm² size
• Perovskite‑silicon tandem cells hit 35.2% efficiency on 1 cm²
• Open‑access Solar Cell Efficiency Tables now published biannually in Joule

Pulse Analysis

The transition of the Solar Cell Efficiency Tables to an open‑access model in *Joule* marks a watershed for photovoltaic research. By removing paywalls, the database—maintained for over three decades by UNSW and an international consortium—becomes instantly available to engineers, investors, and policymakers worldwide. This democratization speeds up the diffusion of best‑practice measurement techniques and benchmarks, fostering a more collaborative innovation ecosystem across academia and industry.

Version 68’s headline results underscore a rapid convergence of silicon and emerging perovskite technologies. Longi’s 28.1% efficiency on a 140 cm² cell and 26.4% on a 1.9 m² module demonstrate that large‑area silicon devices can now approach the theoretical limits once thought exclusive to laboratory‑scale samples. Simultaneously, perovskite breakthroughs—28.0% on a sub‑millimeter cell and tandem structures surpassing 35%—show that hybrid architectures are no longer speculative. These metrics, measured with standardized masking protocols, provide a reliable basis for comparing disparate technologies and guide manufacturers toward the most cost‑effective pathways.

For the market, these advancements translate into tangible economic incentives. Higher efficiencies reduce the levelized cost of electricity (LCOE), making solar projects more competitive against fossil fuels and accelerating the rollout of utility‑scale farms. Investors can now assess technology risk with greater confidence, while utilities gain clearer expectations for performance guarantees. As the tables continue to be updated biannually, stakeholders will have a real‑time pulse on the pace of innovation, informing capital allocation, policy design, and the broader transition to a low‑carbon energy system.