What do Professor Martin Green’s latest Solar Cell Efficiency Tables #67 tell us?

After a short production delay, Version 67 of the Solar Cell Efficiency Tables has now been released, continuing one of the most important global benchmarks for photovoltaic performance. First published in Progress in Photovoltaics in 1993, the tables provide an independently verified snapshot of the highest confirmed efficiencies across solar cell, device and module technologies.

Compiled by an international research team led by ACAP founder Professor Martin Green (UNSW Sydney), Version 67 reports 17 new efficiency results, reinforcing both the steady optimisation of silicon technologies and the accelerating momentum behind tandem and emerging thin-film devices.

Silicon edges closer to its practical limits

The headline result in Version 67 is a new silicon cell record of 27.9%, achieved by Chinese manufacturer LONGi using an advanced interdigitated-back-contact architecture with TOPCon and heterojunction contacts. Independently measured by Germany’s Institute für Solarenergieforschung (ISFH), the cell still achieves 27.7% efficiency when measured on an unmasked, total-area basis.

“This is a new record for a silicon cell,” Professor Green noted, highlighting that the marginal drop between masked and unmasked measurements underscores just how close leading silicon designs are to their theoretical ceiling.

At the same time, the “notable exceptions” table shows continued improvement in commercial-scale silicon cells, with large-area TOPCon, HJT and hybrid designs now consistently exceeding 26% efficiency – a clear signal that laboratory advances are translating into industrially relevant formats.

(Top) External quantum efficiency (EQE) for the new silicon cell results reported in Version 67 of The Solar Cell Efficiency Tables (some curves are normalised). (Bottom) Corresponding current density–voltage (JV) curves.

Tandems move from promise to scale

While silicon is approaching maturity, tandem architectures are entering a new phase in laboratory performance. Version 67 includes two new certified results for perovskite/silicon tandem cells from LONGi, with efficiencies in the 34–35% range across both small and large areas.

Just as significant are the module-level results. Updated entries show perovskite/silicon tandem modules exceeding 31% efficiency, alongside improvements in large-area formats approaching commercial dimensions.

Compared with earlier versions of the tables, this marks a shift: tandem technologies are no longer confined to small research cells, but are increasingly demonstrated at realistic scales.

(Top) External quantum efficiency (EQE) for new two-terminal, double-junction, perovskite/silicon module results reported in Version 67 (results are normalised). (Bottom) Corresponding current–voltage (IV) curves (different colours for each device represent forward and reverse characteristics).

Thin films and emerging materials continue steady gains

Beyond silicon and tandems, Version 67 documents meaningful progress across several thin-film technologies:

·      A 12.9% kesterite (CZTSSe) minimodule, certified by China’s NPVM, improving on earlier results and demonstrating steady, incremental gains in an earth-abundant material system.

·      A 22.9% perovskite large-area submodule (756 cm²) fabricated by Mellow Energy and Jinan University and also measured by China’s NPVM – just shy of full module classification.

·      A 19.4% organic 1cm² solar cell, measured by NPVM and from HyperPV Technology Company (China) – a notable jump that places organic PV back on the efficiency map for practical device sizes.

(Top) External quantum efficiency (EQE) for new thin-film cell and minimodule results reported in Version 67 of the Solar Cell Efficiency Tables (curves are normalised). (Bottom) Corresponding current density–voltage (JV) curves.

Long-term perspective of the Solar Cell Efficiency Tables

Seen over three decades, the tables chart a remarkable trajectory – from silicon cells of 23% efficiency to today’s mature silicon technologies nearing 28%, and tandem devices pushing well beyond 35%. Version 67 reflects the broadening of high-performance PV beyond silicon – from abundant thin films to tandem designs.

As Professor Green and his co-authors continue to emphasise, the Solar Cell Efficiency Tables are not just about records.

“Independent certification remains central to this benchmarking, ensuring that performance gains are globally credible and comparable.” – Professor Martin Green.

Version 67 makes one thing clear: while silicon is being refined to perfection, the next era of big efficiency gains will be driven by tandems, scaling, and sustainable, manufacturable designs.

The full Version 67 tables are available at: https://doi.org/10.1002/pip.70068