Innovative Photovoltaic Cells: The New ENEA-MASE Project
The GOPV project, coordinated by ENEA and supported by the Ministry for the Environment and Energy Security (MASE), represents a significant step in the field of renewable energy.
Presented by ENEA, the new coordinated project aims to increase the energy efficiency of photovoltaic solar technology by developing new cells that ensure stability and sustainability.
The project involves prestigious Italian universities such as Naples "Federico II," the University of Catania, the University of Perugia, the University of Rome Tor Vergata, and Pavia – joined by the Italian Institute of Technology (IIT) and the company BeDimensional.
Innovative Photovoltaic Cells: New Devices to Absorb Various Spectral Regions of Light
The main objective of the project is to develop new materials for innovative and high-efficiency photovoltaic cells. These materials will be implemented not only to reduce the size of photovoltaic systems but also to lower costs and minimize environmental impact, thereby encouraging technological transfer to the industrial sector.
Specifically, the GOPV project aims to create devices based on "tandem" silicon and perovskite cells, designed to efficiently absorb different spectral regions of light. This will enable the construction of high-yield, compact photovoltaic modules.
Paola Delli Veneri, head of the Innovative Devices Laboratory at the ENEA Research Center in Portici, emphasizes the value of the know-how accumulated by the partners over various projects, recognized at both national and international levels.
Delli Veneri also highlights how the GOPV project is an opportunity to combine national expertise in the sector, promote knowledge on innovative, eco-friendly materials produced through low-cost and safe processes.
The ultimate goal is to create high-efficiency devices and develop a new industrial supply chain in the photovoltaic sector.
The New Photovoltaic Cells Will Be Sustainable and Ensure Stable Performance
A particular focus is placed on sustainability, the stability of the performance of photovoltaic cells, and the safety of production processes. For perovskite devices, alternative, more eco-friendly and safer chemical formulations will be explored, avoiding the use of potentially harmful materials such as lead.
Thermal evaporation technologies will also be examined to assess scalable production processes over larger areas. For silicon cells, the project will explore the use of new materials in heterojunction cells, which are more transparent compared to the commonly used thin silicon films. Additionally, new two-dimensional materials will be investigated as alternatives to indium tin oxide (ITO) to address the limited availability of indium.
In addition to research on materials and devices, the GOPV project also plans to identify new research infrastructures for further development and practical applications of the results obtained.
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