Challenge Area: Materials for Photovoltaic Systems

As part of the Materials for the Energy Transition roadmapping process, the Henry Royce Institute in collaboration with the Institute of Physics have brought together UK experts from academia and industry to explore how materials science can contribute to the 2050 net-zero-carbon targets.

The Materials for Photovoltaic Systems roadmap sets out priorities, targets and enablers which have been identified by UK research communities to help achieve a range of PV solutions, from enabling over 50 GW grid-scale solar capacity, to development of zero-carbon buildings, and solar power-integrated automotive applications. These capitalise on the UK’s strong base in early-stage research in PV, and focus on linking this with downstream industry scale-up and commercial translation opportunities. Stronger links between low and medium Technology Readiness Levels (TRLs) can enable the UK to take advantage of materials technologies for niche applications, which in turn will allow access to new PV markets and secondary supply chains.

PV energy conversion has the potential to reach 50% of the UK’s total generation capacity by 2030, and provides a significant opportunity for addressing the UK’s net-zero goals for energy generation. To ensure national energy security, enabling UK-based PV manufacturing is critical. The UK has a world-leading position in PV innovation, where research in material sciences plays a significant role – there is broad academic and practice expertise in existing and emerging materials systems, as well as in device design concepts. There is, however, still a need for translation of innovations into products – which will be achieved through proactive consortia that bring different ecosystem actors together. By establishing a centre for PV materials characterisation, device testing, and rapid prototyping of new products, the UK can become a world leader in PV systems.

“Photovoltaic (PV) energy generation has the potential to reach 50 % of the UK’s total generation capacity by 2030, and provides a significant opportunity for addressing the UK’s net-zero goals for energy generation. To ensure national energy security, enabling UK-based PV manufacturing is critical. The UK has a world-leading position in PV innovation, where research in material sciences plays a significant role, however there is a need for translation of such innovations into products. Such innovation capability could be addressed through the development of a new PhD trained talent pool to build our skills base. In addition the establishment of a centre for PV materials and device characterisation, as well as for the rapid prototyping of new products, could see the UK fill the gap between lab-based research and manufacturing of new PV products.”

Dr Robert Hoye | Lecturer and Royal Academy of Engineering Research Fellow | Imperial College London | Theme Lead for Materials for Photovoltaic Systems

Click here to view a presentation from Dr Robert Hoye (Imperial College London) on the key findings from the Materials for Photovoltaic Systems roadmapping.

This presentation was part of the Materials for the Energy Transition Roadmap Webinar held by the Henry Roye Institute and the Institute of Physics on 15 June 2020. The full webinar recording can be viewed here.

If you would like to cite this document, please use the following text:

Hoye, R.L.Z, Stranks, S.D., Khripko, D., ‘Materials for the Energy Transition roadmap: Materials for Photovoltaic Systems’, Henry Royce Institute, September 2020, https://www.royce.ac.uk/content/uploads/2020/09/M4ET-Materials-for-Photovoltaic-Systems-roadmap.pdf