Indonesia advances next-generation solar panel research to establish domestic production

Indonesia is accelerating research into next-generation solar panel technologies as part of its strategy to strengthen energy independence, expand renewable energy generation and build a competitive domestic manufacturing industry, as reported by ANTARA.

Researchers from the National Research and Innovation Agency (BRIN) are assessing the potential for producing advanced photovoltaic systems within the country, with a focus on technologies that offer significantly higher efficiency than conventional silicon-based solar panels.

According to researchers, the global solar industry is rapidly shifting towards high-performance technologies such as silicon heterojunction (SHJ/HJT) and perovskite-silicon tandem photovoltaic (PV) cells. SHJ technology has already demonstrated energy conversion efficiencies exceeding 27 per cent, while perovskite-silicon tandem cells have achieved laboratory efficiencies of more than 30 per cent, making them among the most promising technologies for the future of solar energy.

Researchers also highlighted that these advanced photovoltaic systems maintain strong performance under high temperatures, making them particularly suitable for tropical climates such as Indonesia.

Indonesia is seen as having substantial potential for expanding solar power generation through rooftop installations, utility-scale solar farms and floating solar power plants on lakes and reservoirs, as reported by the source.

Although the country's capacity to assemble solar modules has increased steadily in recent years, many components and raw materials are imported. Scientists believe this presents an opportunity to develop domestic manufacturing capabilities for advanced solar technologies rather than relying on conventional systems that are gradually being replaced on the global market.

The research is also intended to help establish a comprehensive domestic ecosystem covering the production of advanced photovoltaic components, technological innovation and industrial development.