• About
  • Advertise
  • Subscribe
  • Contact
  • Events
Monday, June 23, 2025
Newsletter
SUBSCRIBE
  • News
    • Events
  • Features
  • Electricity
  • Gas
  • Renewables
    • Batteries & Storage
    • Hydro Power
    • Hydrogen
    • Solar
    • Wind
  • Smart Energy
No Results
View All Results
  • News
    • Events
  • Features
  • Electricity
  • Gas
  • Renewables
    • Batteries & Storage
    • Hydro Power
    • Hydrogen
    • Solar
    • Wind
  • Smart Energy
No Results
View All Results
Home Renewable Energy Solar

ANU researchers make major breakthrough in solar generation

by Staff Writer
August 30, 2019
in News, Projects, Renewable Energy, Smart Energy, Solar, Spotlight
Reading Time: 2 mins read
A A
ANU researchers make major breakthrough in solar generation
Share on FacebookShare on Twitter

Researchers at the Australian National University (ANU) have achieved a breakthrough in solar generation with low-cost semi-transparent perovskite solar cells.

The team, led by The Duong from the ANU Research School of Engineering, have achieved 26 per cent efficiency in converting sunlight into energy, which could help make perovskite solar cells a viable alternative to existing silicon cells.

Perovskite is a material with a lattice-like structure that can help harvest light. Researchers have achieved 26 per cent efficiency by mechanically combining perovskite with silicon solar cells.

ANU PhD student, Mr Duong, said, “Until now efficiencies of this kind have only been achieved using high-cost materials normally used on satellites.

“We are now a step closer to a low-cost alternative.”

Silicon solar cell technology is about 90 per cent of the solar market, but scientists around the world are working to find a way to make them more efficient, affordable, stable and reliable.

The research is supported by $3.6 million in funding from the Australian Renewable Energy Agency.

Professor Kylie Catchpole from the ANU Research School of Engineering said the advances in solar technology were good news for consumers, although the perovskite cells were not yet ready for use on rooftops.

“This breakthrough opens the way to increasing the efficiency of silicon solar cells further, and in a cheap way.

“The key challenge for now is achieving the same stability as we have with silicon solar cells that can be put out on a roof for 20 years using perovskite.

“Over the next few years we are planning to increase efficiencies to 30 per cent and beyond.”

The research has been published in Advanced Energy Materials.

The work was part of the “High-efficiency silicon/perovskite solar cells” project led by University of New South Wales with research partners ANU, Monash University, Arizona State University, Suntech R&D Australia and Trina Solar.

Related Posts

ECA is advocating for more supports as consumers transition away from gas. Image: EL_design/stock.adobe.com

Time to be bold

by Sarah MacNamara
June 23, 2025

With the path to electrification now clear, proactive planning will be key to ensuring consumers have the tools they need...

The energy sector is rapidly transforming, with renewables shaping how power is generated and used. Image: Wosunan/stock.adobe.com

A culture of lifelong learning

by Sarah MacNamara
June 23, 2025

Renewables may power the grid, but people are powering the transition. Supporting the workforce will be key to Australia achieving...

The right digital strategy can drive innovation and long-term resilience in the energy sector. Image: tharathip/stock.adobe.com

Accelerating the transition with digital technologies

by Sarah MacNamara
June 20, 2025

As Australia’s energy system scales up for a net zero future, Autodesk shares key strategies to streamline the sector’s digital...

Read our magazine

Join our newsletter

View our privacy policy, collection notice and terms and conditions to understand how we use your personal information.
Energy is a thought-leading, technology-neutral magazine, developed to help the industry answer some of the Energy sector critical questions it is currently grappling with.

Subscribe to our newsletter

View our privacy policy, collection notice and terms and conditions to understand how we use your personal information.

About Energy

  • About
  • Advertise
  • Subscribe
  • Events
  • Contact
  • Digital Magazine
  • Terms & Conditions
  • Privacy Collection Notice
  • Privacy Policy

Popular Topics

  • News
  • Spotlight
  • Renewable Energy
  • Electricity
  • Projects
  • Networks
  • Sustainability
  • Gas

© 2025 All Rights Reserved. All content published on this site is the property of Prime Creative Media. Unauthorised reproduction is prohibited

No Results
View All Results
NEWSLETTER
SUBSCRIBE
  • News
    • Events
  • Features
  • Electricity
  • Gas
  • Renewables
    • Batteries & Storage
    • Hydro Power
    • Hydrogen
    • Solar
    • Wind
  • Smart Energy
  • About
  • Advertise
  • Subscribe
  • Contact
  • Events
  • Newsletter

© 2025 All Rights Reserved. All content published on this site is the property of Prime Creative Media. Unauthorised reproduction is prohibited