South Korea targets 35% efficiency for next-generation solar technology

The South Korean government is accelerating efforts to secure next-generation solar technology and strengthen the domestic industrial ecosystem, aiming for tandem solar cell efficiency of over 35%. During a meeting at the Korea Institute of Energy Research (KIER) in Daejeon, Minister of Climate, Energy and Environment Kim Seong-hwan met with major industry players, including Hanwha Solutions, HD Hyundai Energy Solutions, and OCI Power.

The initiative focuses on advancing the entire lifecycle of solar technology, from high-efficiency silicon cells to next-generation perovskite tandem cells. Participants emphasized that maintaining competitiveness in crystalline silicon technologies, such as N-type TOPCon, HJT, and xBC, is essential for transitioning to tandem technology.

The KIER Solar Industry Joint Utilization Research Center serves as a key platform, featuring a 50MW solar cell manufacturing line and a 100MW large-area module pilot line to verify technologies before mass production. Minister Kim noted that solar energy will provide the clean power required for advanced industries like AI and semiconductors while serving as a new growth engine for the economy.