Solar Pioneer's Technology Powers Global Energy Shift

The passivated emitter and rear cell (PERC) technology, developed by Australian researcher Martin Green, is now used in an estimated 90% of solar panels installed worldwide.

This foundational technology, combined with its subsequent commercialization, has driven a dramatic decline in the cost of solar power. According to the International Energy Agency (IEA), solar power is now the cheapest source of electricity in history. The IEA further predicts solar will become the world's largest source of electricity next year, surpassing coal.

Key Details

• Martin Green, a researcher at the University of New South Wales (UNSW) in Sydney, has worked on solar cell technology for over 50 years.
• In 2024, solar power contributed 6.9% of global electricity supply, according to analysis from Ember.
• Approximately 650 gigawatts of new solar capacity was installed worldwide in 2024.

Decades of Research and Development

Martin Green began solar research at UNSW in 1974. Early interest was partly driven by oil supply disruptions in the 1970s, though initial applications were primarily for space.

A key breakthrough was the conceptualization of the PERC cell structure, which adds a reflective layer to trap more light and improve efficiency. Under Green's leadership, the UNSW solar research team held the world record for solar cell efficiency for over three decades. The team achieved its first 20% efficient silicon solar cell in 1985 and later achieved efficiency rates up to 26%.

Commercialization and Global Impact

The commercialization of the technology was significantly advanced by Zhengrong Shi, a former PhD student of Green's. Shi founded Suntech in China in 2002, establishing the country's first commercial solar manufacturing line.

Suntech's initial public offering on the New York Stock Exchange in 2005 made Shi the world's first solar billionaire and triggered significant investment in other Chinese solar companies. Intense competition among Chinese manufacturers led to a rapid decline in solar panel prices.

According to UNSW professor Renate Egan, manufacturing costs for solar panels have fallen by a factor of 100 since the late 1970s. The overall cost of solar power has decreased by roughly a factor of 400 over the same period. China's solar manufacturing capacity is now reported to be over one terawatt per year.

Statements and Outlook

"The global solar industry would not be what it is today without Green's contribution," stated Zhengrong Shi.

• Alan Finkel, Australia's former chief scientist, stated that Green's PERC technology was a significant breakthrough for cost and efficiency.
• Former Australian Prime Minister Malcolm Turnbull described Green as instrumental in the transition to renewable energy.
• Renate Egan noted that automation and scaling in Chinese manufacturing have driven down production costs. Analysis indicates solar's share of global electricity supply needs to increase to around 50% by 2050 to meet emissions reduction goals.
• Martin Green stated that the speed of the solar industry's growth has exceeded even his own predictions.