- Meyer Burger enters into important strategic partnership with leading developer of highly efficient next generation perovskite solar cells and sells 200 MW Heterojunction production line
- Operating profitability reached despite difficult market environment
- Net sales 2018 of CHF 407.0 million
- EBITDA CHF 26.1 million; EBIT CHF 1.8 million
- Net loss CHF -59.4 million mainly due to value adjustment on deferred tax assets of CHF 49.0 million
- Transformation program to reduce fixed cost base on track
- Re-sized Executive Board to four members; COO Daniel Lippuner to leave Executive Board
Meyer Burger Technology Ltd (SIX Swiss Exchange: MBTN) and Oxford Photovoltaics Limited (Oxford PV) have entered into a strategic partnership and signed an exclusive cooperation agreement to jointly accelerate the development of mass production technology for perovskite on silicon Heterojunction (HJT) tandem cells.
Oxford PV was founded in 2010 as a spin-out from University of Oxford in England. They have developed perovskite tandem solar cells using bottom cells of crystalline silicon and achieved a certified world-record efficiency of 28% in 2018. Such tandem devices use the higher energy blue part of the solar spectrum more effectively, allowing a theoretical efficiency limit of 43% compared to 29% for traditional single-junction silicon-based solar cells. Perovskite tandem solar cells are viewed in the solar industry as the next generation in solar cell technology enabling the reduction of the cost of solar energy (LCOE) to unprecedented levels. Among experts, Oxford PV is regarded as the leading global company for perovskite tandem solar cells. Its technology and material know-how is protected by a patent portfolio of over 200 patents.
In order to accelerate the industrialization of this promising technology, Meyer Burger and Oxford PV agreed to combine Meyer Burger’s leading Heterojunction (HJT) and SmartWire Connection (SWCTTM) technology with Oxford PV’s unrivaled perovskite solar cell technology. Meyer Burger will sell a 200 MW HJT line for the pilot production of tandem cells which will be ramped up by the end of 2020 in Oxford PV’s Brandenburg an der Havel facility. The initial tandem solar cell efficiency target for the 200 MW pilot production line will be 27%. The characteristics of Meyer Burger’s HJT cells make them the perfect bottom cells for Oxford PV’s perovskite top cell layers. Meyer Burger’s SWCT™ is the ideal technology, connecting the new perovskite on HJT tandem cells into reliable and highly efficient solar modules. Meyer Burger will also develop equipment to industrialize the mass production of the respective perovskite layers which are deposited onto HJT bottom cells. This further accelerates the time-to-market and enlarges Oxford PV’s and Meyer Burger’s advantage as perovskite and HJT technology leaders in the global solar industry.
