Strengthening China’s global leadership in photovoltaic technology

For the planet to embrace clean energy and sustainable development, the transition away from fossil fuels must not be accompanied by economic disruption or a fall in living standards. The technological evolution required to achieve this will be driven by cutting-edge research conducted within higher education institutions around the world, such as Huazhong University of Science and Technology (HUST) in China.

HUST’s contributions to clean energy technology research have led to various breakthroughs in the field, encompassing four core areas: photovoltaic (PV) cells, green hydrogen production, fusion energy and carbon capture. These breakthroughs are underpinned by theoretical innovations achieved by researchers at HUST, such as a 3D carrier injection mechanism and turbulence acceleration theory, which represent a break from traditional scientific approaches.

The impact driven by HUST’s research is evident in the pioneering work around third-generation PV technology, led by Hongwei Han, professor at the university’s Wuhan National Laboratory for Optoelectronics. Several important milestones have followed in the wake of the research being carried out by Han’s team, including improved stability of perovskite battery, a simplified manufacturing process and significantly reduced production costs.

In 2014, Han’s team published the first international report on light-stabilised mesoscopic perovskite solar cells in the internationally renowned journal Science. In 2018, the team demonstrated the real-world impact of their research when they assembled a 110-square-meter experimental demonstration system using printable chalcogenide solar modules. In 2024, an article on a new generation of ultra-low-cost PV technology showcasing Han’s research was published in Science.

The research on PV technology undertaken at HUST has delivered significant strategic value, such as cutting-edge innovations that could challenge the Shockley-Queisser limit, which is the maximum theoretical efficiency of conventional solar cells. This work could lead to further collaboration with industry partners, with leading enterprises keen to conduct pilot tests involving HUST researchers’ single-substrate all-solid-state PV technology.

The exciting breakthroughs of Han’s team involving third-generation PV technology not only provide a new path for low-cost clean energy but also highlight China’s global leadership in the field. Recognising that the sustainability challenges facing the world today require global and interdisciplinary solutions, HUST’s research is broad in scope and relies on the input of multiple stakeholders, from both inside and outside the university. 

Similarly, in the field of fusion energy and green hydrogen production, the university’s J-TEXT (Joint Texas Experimental Tokamak) device – a type of fusion reactor – is being used to support ITER, an international organisation established to further the development of fusion energy. 

Chunhe Yang, chief scientist in the energy storage discipline at HUST’s School of Energy and Power Engineering, led a team of researchers in developing an innovative green hydrogen production system. This involves the reconstruction of the entire value chain, including production, storage, transportation and use based on renewable energy. Additionally, institutions such as the China-EU Institute for Clean and Renewable Energy have helped cultivate a global vision among HUST’s students and faculty towards addressing the challenges of energy transition.

Find out more about the Huazhong University of Science and Technology.