Launch of REC@NUS Corporate R&D Laboratory for Next Generation

A new SGD 77 million research initiative was launched today at the National University of Singapore (NUS) to drive innovation and research into advanced solar cell technology in Singapore. Over the next five years, the Corporate R&D Laboratory (email protected) for Next Generation Photovoltaics ((email protected) Lab Corp), co-founded by the Solar Energy Research Institute of Singapore (SERIS) at NUS and REC Solar (REC ), will research , develops, and commercializes disruptive solar photovoltaic (PV) technology based on perovskite-silicon tandem solar cells.

Supported by the 2025 Research, Innovation and Enterprise Singapore (RIE) Plan, This strategic investment in high-power, clean energy solutions is critical in accelerating Singapore’s transition to renewable energy for a greener future, and maintaining the country’s leading position in PV R&D and manufacturing.

By bringing together NUS-SERIS’ world-class research expertise in PV technology and REC’s deep experience in upgrading innovative solar PV technologies, the new Corporate Laboratory aims to champion bold technological innovations for more powerful, more efficient, more sustainable and less costly solar energy. . . A successful outcome from the Corporate Laboratory can transform the solar power industry globally and, in turn, accelerate the global energy transition.

Deputy Prime Minister and Coordinating Minister for Economic Policy Mr HENG Swee Keat, who is also Chair of the National Research Foundation, launched the new Enterprise Laboratory as a Guest of Honor. This is the eighth corporate laboratory to be established at NUS.

NUS President Professor TAN Eng Chye said, “NUS’ strong research and technology leadership capabilities, coupled with active industry collaboration, have enabled the University to make significant advances in PV technology. We have collaborated with REC on solar PV research for approximately 14 years, and I am heartened that this strategic academic-industrial partnership has now grown into the Corporate R&D Laboratory (email protected) for Next Generation Photovoltaics, which will further consolidate and integrate complementary strengths to make the quantum leap in solar power. I am very confident that REC and NUS will achieve a technical breakthrough to pass the 30 percent conversion efficiency threshold for low-cost large-area solar cells which will accelerate solar PV adoption in urban and space-constrained Singapore.”

“REC has been pushing the boundaries of solar energy technology since its founding, and is committed to continuously increasing efficiency and costs, creating new products, and driving the global transition. With our deep expertise and cutting-edge technology, REC is known for many ‘world firsts’ achievements and is the only solar panel brand in the market with three prestigious Intersolar Awards. By continuously increasing the power density of solar panels and their longevity, more clean energy can be generated at lower costs, more emissions can be offset, and more resources can be saved,” said Dr Shankar G. SRIDHARA, Chief Technology Officer, REC. .

NRF Chief Executive Officer, Mr BEH Kian Teik, said, “The Corporate R&D Laboratory (email protected) is a showcase of our partnership between academia and industry, to support Singapore’s decarbonization efforts. As one of the world’s leading solar labs, SERIS has provided new solar solutions unique to Singapore’s urban environment, such as floating solar PV in our reservoirs and building-integrated photovoltaics (BIPV). This innovative technology enables valuable solar deployment opportunities in our land-strapped country as Singapore strives to achieve net-zero emissions by 2050.”

Corp Lab (email protected) will be led by two Co-Directors: Professor Armin ABERLE, CEO of SERIS, and Dr Shankar G. SRIDHARA, Chief Technology Officer of REC.

Pass the 30 percent conversion efficiency barrier for large areas (> 400 cm²) cheap solar cells

Singapore has identified solar energy as one of the nation’s “Four Energy Switches”. However, its widespread global adoption will require further improvement of energy conversion efficiency, while keeping production costs under control.

The energy conversion efficiency – that is the percentage of solar energy converted into usable electrical energy – of the best-in-class commercial solar cells available today is about 24 to 25 percent. The worldwide research community is currently exploring ways to further increase the efficiency of large area solar cells to reach milestone levels of 30 percent or more.

Developing cost-effective, ultra-high-efficiency solar cells requires a technological transition from current single-junction solar cells – which use a single layer of photovoltaic absorbent material, usually made of silicon – to two-junction tandem solar cell technology.

Two-junction tandem solar cells use two layers of photovoltaic material stacked on top of each other to more efficiently absorb and convert solar radiation into electricity. The top cell facing the sun is designed to optimally change the visible wavelengths of the sun’s spectrum (from blue to red), while allowing invisible wavelengths (near-infrared light) to pass through the bottom cell. A promising up-cell absorbent material is perovskite, which is a family of crystalline compounds that has been gaining attention for next-generation solar cells because of its low production cost and high energy conversion efficiency.

“Lab Corp (email protected) will address the technological cost-efficiency dilemma of the PV industry by demonstrating wide-area perovskite-silicon tandem solar cell technology with an energy conversion efficiency of 30 percent. It will also develop a one-of-a-kind capability to cost-effectively manufacture these advanced solar cells to facilitate industrial adoption,” said Prof Aberle.

The Corporate Lab will bring together research expertise and complementary talent from NUS and REC, in partnership with Nanyang Technological University, to facilitate the cost-effective manufacture of high-performance tandem solar cell technology in Singapore. The project will consist of around 40 researchers and aims to train up to 20 PhD students over the next five years.