PERSEUS project

Europe's energy landscape is undergoing a signifi cant change, driven by the increasing demand for renewable energy sources and the urgent need to decarbonize the economy. In recent years, solar energy has become a major player in Europe's renewable energy sector, with solar power capacity in the European Union (EU) increasing at an unprecedented rate.

In 2024 alone, the EU added a record-breaking 66 GW of new solar capacity, pushing the total solar power capacity to 320 GW, a 25 % increase from the previous year. Projections suggest that this growth will continue and solar energy, already one of the most competitive forms of renewable power, is probably going to play a central role in Europe’s energy transition.

However, traditional photovoltaic technology faces several challenges that limit its broader adoption. The global solar market is largely dominated by Asian, particularly Chinese, manufacturers, raising concerns about energy security and supply chain dependencies.

Additionally, conventional silicon-based solar panels have limitations in integration options, particularly in urban environments, due to their weight, aesthetics, and rigid structure. Performance losses in low-light conditions and the effi ciency cap of single-junction silicon cells further constrain their potential. The PERSEUS project, a key initiative in Europe's solar energy revolution, is addressing these issues by advancing the large-area module production, improving longterm stability, and developing highthroughput manufacturing processes to bring perovskite solar technology to commercial viability.

The PERSEUS project focuses on perovskite-based solar cells (PSCs), a promising next-gen technology that is lighter, cheaper, and more efficient than traditional silicon cells. PSCs have reached a lab efficiency of 27 % in 2025 up from 3.8 % in 2009. However, scaling them for commercial use is challenging due to lab and real-world performance differences. PERSEUS is tackling this by developing large-area PSC modules for various applications, such as floating photovoltaics, building-integrated photovoltaics, agri-photovoltaics, and urban solar solutions.

While PSCs have already reached industrial-scale production in China and are being explored by several European players, real-world performance still lags behind laboratory results. The PERSEUS project is tackling this issue head-on by developing large-area PSC modules for a variety of applications, including floating photovoltaics, building-integrated photovoltaics, agri-photovoltaics, and urban solar solutions. These modules are designed to meet the diverse needs of the energy market, from high-efficiency solutions for building-integrated applications to durable modules for use in floating and agricultural systems.

In the PERSEUS project, researchers are focused on developing three distinct architectures of large-area PSCs: single-junction opaque modules, semitransparent modules, and 4T perovskite + copper indium gallium selenide (CIGS) tandem modules. Each of these designs targets specifi c applications and performance characteristics. The single junction opaque modules are optimized for general utility-scale applications, while the semi-transparent modules are tailored for use in building integrated photovoltaics.

The tandem modules, which combine perovskite with CIGS, aim to achieve even higher efficiency by stacking multiple materials with different absorption properties. These tandem modules are expected to outperform single-junction PSCs in terms of efficiency. One of the key goals of the project is to demonstrate the ability to manufacture these modules at large scales while maintaining high performance, durability, and cost-effectiveness.

As renewable energy technologies continue to evolve, it is essential that the regulatory framework keeps pace with these advancements. The project is collaborating with policymakers to ensure regulations support digital innovations in energy. By focusing on interoperability, PERSEUS facilitates seamless data exchange among stakeholders and promotes secure, open-source platforms, driving digitalization in line with the EU's Green Deal objectives.

The project's innovations will be tested in real-world conditions across several pilot sites in Europe. These pilots are crucial for refi ning the technologies developed by PERSEUS before they are deployed on a larger scale and will be used as showcases for reluctant consumers, proving the high efficiency and longevity.

In the coming years, the project's legacy will be measured not only in technical breakthroughs but in its ability to drive systemic change - transforming the way we produce and consume energy in the digital age. The future of clean energy is no longer a question of possibility, it is a question of urgency.