Project description
Overcoming crucial challenges to the future of photovoltaics
Photovoltaic (PV) cells are a key component in the transition to sustainable energy sources, providing solar energy with the potential to increase deployment and reduce prices, thanks to silicon photovoltaics (Si-PVs). However, the push for innovation and widespread adoption of PVs is encountering a challenge in the form of the theoretical limits of power conversion efficiency. The EU-funded LEEMONS project aims to develop an innovative proof-of-concept demonstration for a novel technology that addresses this challenge by converting high-energy electrons into multiple lower-energy electrons, bypassing fundamental thermalisation losses. This technology would be compatible with and easily integrated into 80 to 95 % of current PV manufacturing designs, facilitating easier adoption.
Objective
Photovoltaics (PVs) cells will play a major role in the worldwide transition to more sustainable sources of energy. There has been a vast scale up in the deployment of PV cells driven by the drastic price reduction of Si photovoltaics (Si-PVs). It is now widely accepted that increases in PV efficiency are key to pushing PV deployment further and continuing to lower costs. However, after decades of research and development, Si-PVs are approaching the theoretical limit for power conversion efficiencies (currently 26.8% out of a possible 29.4%) as determined by the Shockley-Queisser limit, due to thermalisation losses. There is currently no commercially deployed technology that can overcome this challenge.
The project LEEMONS will make a proof-of-concept demonstration of a new technology – an electron multiplication phenomenon, which overcomes these fundamental thermalisation losses by converting high energy electrons into several lower energy electrons.
This solution is compatible with 80% (possibly 95%) of current PV manufacturing capacity as well as future designs and hence requiring little change on the current manufacturing lines and therefore low capital expenses. LEEMONS project will produce prototypes fabricated from state-of the art European PV cells (PERC based and Heterojunction solar cells). These integrated cells shall demonstrate a gain in power conversion efficiency, thus opening up a new technological area, which will help deliver both economic, societal and environmental benefits.
Fields of science (EuroSciVoc)
CORDIS classifies projects with EuroSciVoc, a multilingual taxonomy of fields of science, through a semi-automatic process based on NLP techniques. See: The European Science Vocabulary.
CORDIS classifies projects with EuroSciVoc, a multilingual taxonomy of fields of science, through a semi-automatic process based on NLP techniques. See: The European Science Vocabulary.
- engineering and technology environmental engineering energy and fuels renewable energy solar energy photovoltaic
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Keywords
Project’s keywords as indicated by the project coordinator. Not to be confused with the EuroSciVoc taxonomy (Fields of science)
Project’s keywords as indicated by the project coordinator. Not to be confused with the EuroSciVoc taxonomy (Fields of science)
Programme(s)
Multi-annual funding programmes that define the EU’s priorities for research and innovation.
Multi-annual funding programmes that define the EU’s priorities for research and innovation.
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HORIZON.2.5 - Climate, Energy and Mobility
MAIN PROGRAMME
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HORIZON.2.5.2 - Energy Supply
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Topic(s)
Calls for proposals are divided into topics. A topic defines a specific subject or area for which applicants can submit proposals. The description of a topic comprises its specific scope and the expected impact of the funded project.
Calls for proposals are divided into topics. A topic defines a specific subject or area for which applicants can submit proposals. The description of a topic comprises its specific scope and the expected impact of the funded project.
Funding Scheme
Funding scheme (or “Type of Action”) inside a programme with common features. It specifies: the scope of what is funded; the reimbursement rate; specific evaluation criteria to qualify for funding; and the use of simplified forms of costs like lump sums.
Funding scheme (or “Type of Action”) inside a programme with common features. It specifies: the scope of what is funded; the reimbursement rate; specific evaluation criteria to qualify for funding; and the use of simplified forms of costs like lump sums.
HORIZON-RIA - HORIZON Research and Innovation Actions
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Call for proposal
Procedure for inviting applicants to submit project proposals, with the aim of receiving EU funding.
Procedure for inviting applicants to submit project proposals, with the aim of receiving EU funding.
(opens in new window) HORIZON-CL5-2024-D3-01
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Net EU financial contribution. The sum of money that the participant receives, deducted by the EU contribution to its linked third party. It considers the distribution of the EU financial contribution between direct beneficiaries of the project and other types of participants, like third-party participants.
78000 VERSAILLES
France
The organization defined itself as SME (small and medium-sized enterprise) at the time the Grant Agreement was signed.
The total costs incurred by this organisation to participate in the project, including direct and indirect costs. This amount is a subset of the overall project budget.