A closer look at the class of materials known as Perovskites, and their current and potential role in the manufacture of solar technology.
By Dr. Mary O’Kane of Ossila Ltd.
By the end of 2023, around 745 million people worldwide were still living without access to electricity1. A significant global challenge in overcoming this issue lies in providing access to electricity to those in rural and remote regions. Off-grid energy systems, such as standalone solar installations, offer a viable solution for these communities. The latest Off-Grid Market Trends Report 2024 highlights off-grid energy as a primary strategy to combat energy poverty, with the potential to connect up to 40% of those currently without electricity by 20302.
As the global shift toward renewable energy intensifies, solar power has moved into the spotlight as a key solution for sustainability. While silicon-based solar panels continue to lead the market, an innovative technology—perovskite solar cells—holds promise for transforming off-grid systems. With their potential to deliver more efficient and cost-effective energy, perovskite cells could redefine the future of off-grid power, making clean electricity more accessible and affordable for rural communities worldwide.
The Off-Grid Energy Challenge
A major contributor to energy poverty is the challenge of connecting rural and remote communities to the main power grid. Extending grid infrastructure to these areas is often impractical or too costly to implement, necessitating self-sustaining, innovative energy solutions.
However, these alternative energy solutions must overcome several key limitations:
- High initial costs. While off-grid renewable systems like solar and wind have low operational costs, the initial investment in specialist equipment can be unaffordable for many communities.
- Energy storage and reliability. Off-grid systems must generate enough power to meet daily demands and store excess for times of reduced power generation. Reliable battery storage solutions are essential, but they add to both the cost and complexity of off-grid setups.
- Durability in environmental conditions. Off-grid systems often operate in remote areas with extreme climates, from humid jungles to deserts. Components must withstand harsh weather, which can increase maintenance and reduce the lifespan of equipment.
- Complex logistics and transportation. Transporting equipment to remote areas is often complicated. Roads may be undeveloped, weather conditions can vary significantly, and in some cases, alternative transportation methods are necessary. Large or fragile components, such as silicon-based solar panels, can be difficult to move without incurring damage, increasing both risk and cost.
Overcoming the off-grid energy challenge means innovating solutions that are affordable, resilient, and sustainable, ultimately empowering communities with clean energy and improving quality of life.
Solar off-grid systems require minimal infrastructure, so they are ideally suited to rural and developing areas where connecting to the grid is impractical or too costly. However, conventional silicon-based solar panels are faced with many of the challenges outlined above. The upfront and maintenance costs are often prohibitive, especially in rural settings. Additionally, these panels tend to be heavy, fragile, and difficult to transport to remote areas. Newer technologies, such as perovskite solar cells, are emerging as promising alternatives to address these limitations, offering potential improvements in cost-effectiveness, high efficiencies, and adaptability for off-grid use.
Transforming Rural Communities
The impact of solar technology on rural communities is transformative because reliable access to electricity can serve as a catalyst for economic, educational, and health advancements that were previously out of reach. In countries like Kenya, Ethiopia, and Rwanda, off-grid solar systems are leading the charge against rural energy poverty, accelerating social and economic progress in these communities3.
Economic Empowerment
In agriculture, access to reliable electricity enables farmers to power irrigation systems, improving water efficiency and supporting higher-value crop cultivation. Electricity also allows for on-site processing, packaging, and storage, helping farmers move beyond raw product sales to local markets, thereby increasing income potential. For small businesses, dependable energy unlocks new entrepreneurial possibilities, such as workshops, cafes, and retail shops, which drive job creation and strengthen local economies. Research by MIT highlights similar trends in rural India, where off-grid solar solutions empowered families to meet basic needs and even establish income-generating businesses before grid access became available4.
Health and Education
In education, electricity access allows students and teachers to integrate technology into learning through computers, tablets, and projectors, providing students with a more comprehensive and efficient education. This is a step towards bridging the gap between rural and urban education by offering access to digital learning tools and internet connectivity. Healthcare facilities also see significant benefits, as reliable electricity enables refrigeration for vaccines and medicines, as well as the operation of essential diagnostic equipment. In remote areas, this can be lifesaving, bringing vital medical services closer to communities that would otherwise face long journeys to centralized health centers.
Electricity for Living
Beyond these economic and service benefits, access to electricity enhances daily quality of life. Families no longer have to rely on harmful kerosene lamps or open fires for lighting, which can cause respiratory issues, particularly among children and the elderly. Instead, solar-powered lights allow for a safer, healthier, and brighter living environment. Renewable energies offer rural areas an alternative to fossil fuels and biomass, reducing greenhouse gas emissions and helping curb deforestation. Many rural communities rely on wood and charcoal for cooking and heating—practices that lead to environmental degradation. Solar energy enables a shift to clean energy for daily needs, reducing indoor air pollution and promoting healthier living.
Understanding Perovskite Solar Cells
Perovskites are a class of materials distinguished by a unique crystal structure that makes them exceptionally efficient at converting sunlight into electricity. With efficiencies surpassing 26% by 2023, perovskite solar cells have quickly gained favor in solar research, advancing faster than most other solar technologies, including conventional silicon-based cells5.
Unlike silicon, perovskite materials are inexpensive and require less energy to produce, which theoretically lowers the cost of solar panel production. Additionally, perovskites can be manufactured on flexible substrates to produce lightweight, versatile solar panels that are better suited to a range of applications and installation scenarios. These flexible, lightweight systems also impose less structural demands, increasing the range of buildings they can be integrated into. This flexibility broadens the range of environments where perovskite solar cells can be used, making them particularly suited for areas with challenging terrain or limited infrastructure.
The production of perovskite solar cells is relatively simple, using methods such as printing or coating, which enable rapid scaling without the need for costly infrastructure investments typical of silicon panel production. This scalability enhances the feasibility of large-scale perovskite solar cell production, paving the way for widespread adoption in regions where electricity infrastructure is still emerging.
Perovskites in Off-Grid Energy
Perovskite solar technology holds immense promise for addressing the world’s growing energy needs. As global population levels rise, the demand for accessible, affordable electricity becomes more urgent. Between 2021 and 2022, the number of people without electricity increased by 10 million, and under current policies, as many as 660 million people could still lack access by 20306. With the perovskite solar cell industry expected to reach $1.2 billion by 20337, their adoption could meet or even exceed population growth, making clean, reliable energy accessible to more communities around the world. If current challenges with perovskites are resolved, they could transform the solar market, making energy production cheaper and more sustainable.
Why Perovskites Stand Out
Perovskite solar cells bring practical and affordable solutions to the energy challenges faced by resource-limited communities. By significantly reducing production costs, perovskite technology enables the creation of cost-effective solar panels, making solar energy more accessible and achievable for regions previously underserved by traditional silicon-based systems.
- Lightweight and flexible design. Perovskite solar cells can be fabricated on flexible substrates, making them lighter and easier to transport or install in remote locations without heavy equipment.
- Cost-effective production. Using inexpensive raw materials and requiring less energy for production, perovskites lower the overall cost of solar systems, a critical factor for communities with constrained resources. Local production of perovskite solar cells has been shown to be economically viable in 71 out of 80 lower- and low-middle-income countries studied. For example, in Ethiopia, the local manufacturing infrastructure, raw materials, and regulatory support are all in place, offering a potential cost reduction of ~10% compared to silicon-based panels produced on a large scale8.
- High efficiency in low-light conditions. Perovskite cells perform well under diffuse or low-light conditions, providing a more reliable power source in regions with inconsistent sunlight, such as areas with frequent cloud cover or shorter daylight hours.
- Quick and simple installation. The flexible and lightweight design of perovskite panels reduces labor and infrastructure requirements, translating to faster deployment and lower installation costs for contractors.
- Versatility and customization. Perovskite materials can be incorporated into various products, from solar fabrics to building-integrated photovoltaics, offering customized solutions for specific off-grid needs such as portable energy systems or solar-powered shelters.
- Scalability and rapid production. The simpler, scalable manufacturing processes for perovskite cells support faster mass production, allowing for quicker distribution and deployment in regions that need off-grid energy solutions.
Challenges in Perovskite Development
While perovskite technology shows strong promise, several critical challenges must be overcome to unlock its full potential in off-grid energy applications. For commercial viability, solar cells need to meet industry standards—typically achieving at least 10% efficiency over a decade and lasting up to 25 years outdoors to rival the durability of silicon cells9.
Perovskite solar cells are currently sensitive to environmental factors like moisture, oxygen, and heat, all of which can accelerate degradation. In off-grid settings where installations are exposed to diverse and often harsh environmental conditions, enhancing the durability of perovskite cells is essential. Presently, perovskite cells do not meet the required longevity standards for widespread use. Much of their success in laboratory settings has relied on controlled environments, such as a glove box, that prevents exposure to oxygen and moisture during fabrication and testing. Ongoing research is dedicated to developing advanced encapsulation techniques to protect cells from these elements and modifying the chemical composition of perovskites to improve stability and resilience in real-world conditions.
Another key challenge is the environmental impact of certain perovskite formulations, which may contain lead—a potential health and ecological risk. The industry is actively working on lead-free alternatives, aiming to create safer and more sustainable perovskite technology that aligns with environmental standards and meets regulatory requirements.
Addressing these challenges will be essential for perovskite solar cells to become a reliable, long-term solution for off-grid energy needs, advancing both energy access and environmental sustainability.
An Off-Grid Future
Off-grid solar technology stands poised to bring about profound and lasting changes in rural areas. By addressing the fundamental need for reliable energy, it paves the way for these communities to build resilient, sustainable futures, empowering them to thrive economically, socially, and environmentally.
In particular, perovskite solar cells represent a breakthrough in renewable energy technology for off-grid applications as their unique advantages align with the needs of remote and rural communities. These cells offer a pathway to affordable, reliable, and sustainable energy access, making them a transformative technology for communities previously overlooked in the renewable energy conversation. By addressing the remaining challenges, the renewable energy sector can unlock the full potential of perovskite solar cells, driving industry growth and making a significant impact on global energy access.
References
- https://www.iea.org/commentaries/access-to-electricity-improves-slightly-in-2023-but-still-far-from-the-pace-needed-to-meet-sdg7
- https://www.gogla.org/wp-content/uploads/2024/10/MTR-Design_Oct8-web.pdf
- https://www.sciencedirect.com/science/article/abs/pii/S0301421520308429
- https://energy.mit.edu/news/encouraging-solar-energy-adoption-in-rural-india/
- https://www.nrel.gov/pv/cell-efficiency.html
- https://www.who.int/news/item/12-06-2024-progress-on-basic-energy-access-reverses-for-first-time-in-a-decade
- https://www.qmul.ac.uk/research/featured-research/aerosol-treated-perovskites–shedding-new-light-on-affordable-solar-energy/
- https://pubs.rsc.org/en/content/articlehtml/2022/ee/d2ee01343f
- https://doi.org/10.1016/j.solmat.2022.111976
Author bio:
Dr. Mary O’Kane
Mary is a content writer and application scientist at Ossila Ltd. In this role, she creates and reviews informative articles to help users get the most out of our equipment and materials, and to make cutting edge scientific research and know-how as accessible as possible. Before this, she completed a PhD specializing in the scalability of perovskite solar cells. During this time, she co-authored several research papers and conference presentations on perovskite and organic photovoltaic research, acting as lead investigator in several key projects. She has a MPhys degree from the University of Sheffield.
Connect with Mary on LinkedIn.