Tandem PV acquires nexTC for module coating technology
American perovskite-silicon solar panel developer Tandem PV has acquired thin-film metal oxide coating developer nexTC Corp., representatives announced Aug. 3.
Financial terms of the acquisition have not been disclosed.
Headquartered in Corvallias, Oregon, near the campus of Oregon State University, nexTC’s coating technology gives California-based Tandem PV the opportunity to bring “critical” coating technology in-house. Tandem PV officials say that giving the firm greater control over the coating process as it ramps to commercial scale production was a crucial factor in the acquisition.
As part of the deal, the Tandem PV team will also be bringing on Dr. Cory Perkins, nexTC’s founder and CEO.
“We’ve worked with Cory for years and know firsthand the value of his expertise in oxide thin films, which are critical to building durable, high-performing perovskite modules,” says Scott Wharton, CEO of Tandem PV. “Bringing Cory’s expertise and nexTC’s technology into Tandem gives us greater control over a core part of the manufacturing process and allows us to optimize it directly on our production line as we scale.”
Bolstering module efficiency
nexTC specializes in “solution-based transparent oxide coatings,” according to Tandem PV representatives. These modules form extremely thin layers on solar panels, modifying charge transport while still allowing sunlight to reach the silicon cell.
In all, the coatings from nexTC aim to increase not only module efficiency for Tandem PV products, but durability and manufacturability as well.
The acquisition comes as a follow-up to the opening of Tandem PV’s 65,000-square-foot commercial demonstration factory, located in Fremont. The facility has a production line with about 40 MW of annual nameplate capacity, and produces large-format tandem solar panels with an aim to scale to commercial production.
“After collaborating with Tandem PV on several projects, I saw a team that combines strong science with the ability to move technology onto a manufacturing line,” said Perkins. “Joining Tandem gives us the opportunity to integrate nexTC’s coating technology directly into a manufacturing platform advancing toward commercial-scale production.”
