A new solar panel created by Oxford PV has smashed all records by achieving an unprecedented 26.9% efficiency.

The solar module is the latest development in perovskite-on-silicon tandem solar cell technology from the pioneer in next generation solar technology.

The 60 cell solar panel is sized for residential purposes, with a designated area of just over 1.6 m² and weighing under 25kg.

“It’s encouraging to see that the recent wave of breakthroughs in solar technology shows no sign of slowing down,” said James Dorrian, Managing Director of EnergyEfficiency.ie.

“Making solar panels more efficient makes them an even more attractive investment for homeowners, who stand to save more money on their energy bills and reduce reliance on fossil fuel power from the grid.”

The double glass module created by Oxford PV surpasses the current best purely silicon solar panels by a significant margin.

David Ward, CEO of Oxford PV, commented, “Oxford PV’s record-setting module represents a significant advancement for solar power generation.”

“Homeowners along with commercial and utility customers will all benefit from upwards of 20% more power with the same footprint.”

“Not only does this save installation costs, it also speeds up the decarbonisation journey and can contribute to the global energy transition in a meaningful way.” 

Chris Case, CTO at Oxford PV, added, “This achievement comes on the heels of our previous efficiency of 25% on an industrial-size module, reported in January 2024.”

“For the past decade, the team has continued to demonstrate the potential for perovskite on silicon tandem solar cells, setting and breaking efficiency records along the way.”

“Now, we are taking the next steps to bring this high-efficiency solar technology into commercial use to support our vision of an all-electric future.” 

The efficiency of the solar module was independently measured and certified by the Fraunhofer CalLab.

Oxford PV manufactures its solar panels at its facility in Brandenburg an der Havel, Germany, and uses both in-house and contract services for the module assembly. 

The company intends to scale up its production of perovskite tandem solar cells to gigawatt volumes within the next few years.