Efficiency Comparison
- Single-junction perovskite solar cells have rapidly improved in efficiency since their introduction, reaching about 26.7% power conversion efficiency as of 2025, certified by the National Renewable Energy Laboratory (NREL). This is very close to the best single-junction silicon solar cells, which typically max out near 27.3% efficiency for heterostructure silicon cells.
- Tandem perovskite-on-silicon solar cells combine a perovskite layer on top of a silicon cell to potentially exceed the efficiency limits of either material alone. These tandem cells have achieved efficiencies up to 34.6% as of 2025, significantly surpassing single-junction silicon limits, which have a theoretical efficiency ceiling around 29%.
- The theoretical efficiency limit for perovskite-silicon tandem cells is about 43%, whereas traditional silicon cells have a theoretical practical limit around 29%.
Advantages of Perovskite Cells Over Silicon
- Perovskite materials absorb light very efficiently, especially in parts of the solar spectrum where silicon is less effective. This spectral complementarity is key to their tandem cell performance.
- Perovskite solar cells can be fabricated using low-cost, low-temperature processes (such as ink-based printing), potentially lowering production costs compared to silicon cells which require high-temperature processing.
- Perovskites exhibit high absorption coefficients enabling very thin films to capture the full visible spectrum, allowing for lightweight, flexible solar modules which are difficult with rigid silicon wafers.
Stability and Commercialization Challenges
- While silicon solar cells have long established industrial maturity and stability, perovskite solar cells have historically faced challenges with long-term stability and durability, particularly under heat, moisture, and light exposure.
- Recent advances, such as the introduction of improved protective coatings (e.g., amidinium-based layers), have tripled the lifetime stability of perovskite cells without sacrificing efficiency, with the latest stable perovskite cells reaching efficiencies around 26.3% and maintaining 90% of their initial performance after extended harsh condition testing.
- The U.S. Department of Energy actively supports research to enhance perovskite cell stability, manufacturability, and scalability to enable commercialization.
Summary Table of Efficiency
| Solar Cell Type | Typical Efficiency (Single Junction) | Tandem Cell Efficiency | Theoretical Limit |
|---|---|---|---|
| Silicon (single junction) | ~27.3% (best lab-scale) | N/A | ~29% practical limit |
| Perovskite (single junction) | ~26.7% (certified, 2025) | N/A | ~31% (Shockley-Queisser limit) |
| Perovskite-Silicon Tandem Cell | N/A | ~34.6% (certified, 2025) | ~43% |
Conclusion
Perovskite solar cells are rapidly catching up to and even surpassing the efficiency of traditional silicon cells, especially when integrated in tandem configurations. Their lower production cost potential and ability to be combined with silicon to break silicon’s efficiency ceiling position them as a transformative technology for solar power. However, silicon cells still hold an edge in commercial stability and long-term durability, though this gap is closing with ongoing material innovations.
Hence, perovskite solar cells offer significantly higher efficiency potential than traditional silicon cells, particularly in tandem form, with rapidly improving stability and cost advantages that could accelerate the solar energy transition globally.
Original article by NenPower, If reposted, please credit the source: https://nenpower.com/blog/how-does-the-efficiency-of-perovskite-solar-cells-compare-to-traditional-silicon-based-cells/
