Akcome has announced an investment of approximately 1 billion RMB (~USD 140 million) to establish a research and production base for heterojunction-perovskite tandem solar cells.
The initiative will be led by Akcome’s wholly-owned subsidiary, Zhejiang Akcome Future Technology Co., Ltd., in collaboration with the Hangzhou Qianjiang Economic Development Zone Management Committee.
The recently signed framework agreement outlines a three-phase investment plan. The initial phase involves a laboratory with an estimated investment of 150 million RMB (~USD 20.97 million), covering a leased space of around 3,000 square meters.
This facility will be dedicated to the R&D of HJT-perovskite tandem solar cells, aligning with Akcome’s strategic goals for production and development.
The second phase includes a pilot production line with a planned investment of approximately 250 million RMB (~USD 34.95 million).
The third and final phase encompasses the construction of the first mass production line, with an investment of about 600 million RMB (~USD 83.88 million).
In August 2022, Akcome emphasized the importance of HJT technology as a fundamental PV technology in the coming years. Notably, both HJT and perovskite solar cell technologies involve low-temperature processes, ensuring high compatibility of their production equipment.
The thin-film nature of HJT also simplifies the incorporation of perovskite into its structure.
The tandem solar cell technology, integrating perovskite and silicon, has attracted the attention of major companies in the PV sector.
Wang Jinshan, Chairman of perovskite equipment supplier Precision Systems, observed that nearly all major silicon cell manufacturers have begun investing in perovskite to some extent, anticipating breakthroughs in the conversion efficiency bottleneck of silicon cells through perovskite tandem technology.
