NEXUS, FHNW School of Life Sciences

Perovskites are a new development in photovoltaics, offering high power conversion efficiency and low cost. In so-called "tandem perovskites", the perovskite cell is placed on top of a regular silicon solar cell. Through this, the power conversion efficiency limit of conventional silicon photovoltaics can be overcome, resulting in further reductions in electricity generation costs and resource consumption.

NEXUS aims to accelerate Europe’s transition to clean energy by development of perovskite-Si tandem photovoltaics. NEXUS follows a global eco-design approach based on efficiency, cost, sustainability, circularity and social aspects of the whole value chain. NEXUS will develop stable, 2-terminal perovskite-silicon tandem solar cells with power conversion efficiencies >33% (modules >30%) and stabilities like state-of-the-art single junction silicon PV modules.

NEXUS is a multi-disciplinary consortium with 12 partners from 9 European countries. Five industrial partners and seven research & technology organizations cover the whole value chain from research to end-users and markets.

The FHNW School of Life Sciences leads the work package on resource efficiency and sustainability. We also conduct life-cycle assessments, develop recycling schemes, and ensure the safe deployment of tandem perovskites through outdoor leaching tests.