[Edaily Reporter Kang Min-koo ] As China dominates the global solar industry supply chain, South Korea is challenging the status quo with next-generation solar cell technology. The strategy is to secure a leading position in new markets by developing perovskite triple-junction technology that overcomes the limitations of existing silicon solar cells. The country is also laying the groundwork to counter China’s low-cost offensive by expanding the application of solar cells to various settings, including building facades, automobiles, and space.

Shin Hyun-jung, Program Director (PD) of the Solar Cell Mission under the K-Moonshot Program, emphasized in a recent interview with E-Daily at the Korea Institute of Science and Technology (KIST), “It is difficult to compete with China, which has already achieved economies of scale and dominates the market, using silicon solar cells,” adding, “South Korea must stake its claim with next-generation solar cells.”

Shin is a materials engineering expert who has conducted research on nanomaterials, thin-film manufacturing processes, and energy conversion devices. She currently also serves as a professor in the Department of Energy Science at Sungkyunkwan University.

◇ China’s market alone estimated at 500 trillion won… Must compete with new technologies

China currently holds the lead in the global solar industry. According to the International Energy Agency (IEA), China accounts for more than 80% of global production capacity in the core manufacturing stages of solar power generation. Chinese companies, which have secured price competitiveness through large-scale capital investment and vertical integration, are leading the global market.

Shin, the project director, estimated the size of China’s solar cell market at approximately 500 trillion won. He stated, “With the solar cell market now surpassing even the rechargeable battery market, we must reshape the competitive landscape with new technologies rather than entering the existing solar cell market late in the game.”

The technology South Korea is focusing on is perovskite. This material, which has a specific crystal structure, is used in the core layer of solar cells that absorbs light to generate electricity. It offers the advantage of being able to be fabricated into thin films through solution-based processes, and the wavelength range of absorbed light can be adjusted by modifying the material composition.

In particular, stacking multiple layers of solar cells that absorb light of different wavelengths allows for the conversion of more solar energy into electricity than a single-junction solar cell. This is known as multi-junction technology. Currently, the approach drawing the most attention from global companies is dual-junction technology, which involves stacking perovskite on top of a silicon solar cell.

The United States and Japan are also accelerating their efforts to secure next-generation solar cell technology. The U.S. is investing in manufacturing facilities and next-generation solar cell technology, primarily through domestic solar companies such as First Solar. Japan is promoting the mass production and demonstration of perovskite solar cells with government support. Chinese companies have also entered the race to develop tandem solar cells that combine silicon and perovskite, leveraging their existing silicon production infrastructure.

K-Moonshot is taking this a step further. It is tackling “all-perovskite triple-junction” technology, which stacks three perovskite layers that absorb light of different wavelengths without using silicon.

Project Director Shin explained, “We aim to boost efficiency by moving beyond the method of layering perovskite on top of commercially available silicon solar cells and instead implementing a triple-junction structure using only perovskite from the very beginning.”

◇Target: 35% Solar Cell Module Efficiency... Building a Foundation for Commercialization with Industry

The key goal is to achieve a photovoltaic conversion efficiency of 35% for mass-market solar modules by 2035. The aim is not merely to record high efficiency in small laboratory-scale devices, but to ensure high performance in large-area modules suitable for actual installation.

When multiple solar cells are connected to form a module, efficiency decreases due to electrical losses and inactive areas that do not absorb light. To apply the high-efficiency technology demonstrated in the lab to actual products, it is necessary to secure both large-area manufacturing technology and process stability.

There are also numerous challenges to overcome before commercialization. Perovskite performance can degrade when exposed to external environmental factors such as moisture, heat, and light. Technologies capable of producing uniform thin films on large areas and maintaining long-term stability are crucial.

K-Moonshot is leveraging “AI for Science” to optimize ultra-high-efficiency materials, devices, and manufacturing processes. The plan also involves establishing reliability evaluation and demonstration infrastructure to ensure that research outcomes translate into actual products and industrial applications.

Korea’s geographical characteristics have also been reflected in the direction of technology development. While China and the United States can utilize vast tracts of land to build large-scale solar power plants, Korea has many mountainous areas and limited land available for installation. Consequently, attention is being focused on the potential of lightweight, thin solar cell technologies that can be applied to various spaces—such as building exteriors, windows, and automobiles—where installing conventional solar panels is difficult.

Investments linking research and development (R&D) with demonstration projects are also being pursued. This approach involves developing core enabling technologies, followed by the construction of large-scale manufacturing and testing facilities to verify performance in real-world environments. The plan also includes leveraging AI to accelerate the pace of R&D. According to Project Director Shin, the initial annual R&D investment is projected to be approximately 30.5 billion won, and separate investments in large-scale demonstration infrastructure are also under consideration.

Cooperation with the private sector will also be strengthened. The policy is to reflect corporate technology needs through a private-sector consultative body and bridge the gap between R&D and commercialization. Currently, #Hanwha Q CELLS, UniTest Inc.(086390), JUSUNG ENGINEERING Co.,Ltd.(036930), and HD HYUNDAI ENERGY SOLUTIONS CO.,LTD.(322000) are participating in the consultative body.

Applications may extend beyond terrestrial power generation into space. Lightweight and thin perovskite solar cells are gaining attention as power sources for satellites and space data centers, where weight and space are critical factors. Discussions on separate collaboration plans for this field are underway, distinct from the core solar cell mission.

Project Director Shin emphasized that for South Korea to secure leadership in new industries based on next-generation solar cell technology, it must translate R&D achievements into large-area manufacturing and commercialization.

“South Korea possesses world-class research competitiveness in the perovskite field,” he said. “Given the connections to display (OLED) and semiconductor processes, South Korea has a strong chance of success if we utilize large-scale manufacturing facilities.”

◇Shin Hyun-jung, Project Director of the K-Moonshot Project, is
△Born in 1967 △B.S. in Ceramic Engineering, Yonsei University △M.S. and Ph.D. in Materials Engineering, Case Western Reserve University, U.S. △Researcher, Max Planck Institute for Metals Research, Germany △Researcher, Samsung Advanced Institute of Technology △Professor, Kookmin University △ Visiting Professor at the University of Texas at Dallas △ Currently a Professor in the Department of Energy Science at Sungkyunkwan University △ Currently Vice President of the Sungkyun Energy Science and Technology Institute at Sungkyunkwan University △ Currently Program Director of the K-Moonshot Program (Solar Cell Mission)