It may not roll off the tongue but perovskite is the talk of solar energy circles. The material, named after 19th century mineralogist Lev Perovski, promises to revolutionise the industry with its efficiency gains. British start-up Oxford PV is one of those leading the charge. Perovskite-based cells are able to capture about 20 per cent more energy from sunlight than traditional ones made from silicon.
Oxford PV’s panels boast an efficiency of almost 29 per cent. That is 5 percentage points higher than the norm. With further improvements, Perovskite-based cells are expected to convert nearly 40 per cent of the sun’s energy into electricity.
Oxford PV’s technology works by combining a thin film of perovskite on top of a silicon one. That is costlier on a per unit basis but cheaper in terms of the energy produced. They are particularly suitable where space is tight. Oxford PV aims to focus on residential use.