Chairpersons' Message

We are delighted to welcome you to the Silicon Photovoltaics Conference 2026 in the vibrant and historic city of Ankara, Türkiye.

Silicon photovoltaics has become a central force in the global energy transition. Once considered an alternative energy source, it now stands at the forefront of climate action, industrial innovation, and energy equity. The evolution of this field—from laboratory-scale research to gigawatt-scale deployment—reflects not only remarkable technological advancements, but also the strength of global scientific collaboration and strategic vision.

Today, silicon solar cells continue to push the limits of performance. Innovations in passivating contacts, back-contact architectures, heterojunction and TOPCon technologies have rapidly matured, while tandem approaches—particularly perovskite-on-silicon—are opening new frontiers in efficiency. At the same time, industry is preparing for terawatt-scale deployment, requiring progress not only in performance but also in cost, scalability, and environmental sustainability.

SilicoNPV 2026 will serve as a dynamic platform to explore these interconnected challenges and opportunities. The program will feature the latest advances in silicon-based device architectures, tandem cell concepts, defect engineering, and novel materials. It will also cover critical topics such as characterization, simulation, system integration, and sustainable manufacturing practices. As solar energy scales to meet global needs, the scientific community’s role in ensuring long-term performance, resource responsibility, and circularity becomes ever more vital.

This year’s conference in Ankara offers a unique opportunity to engage with a rapidly growing solar ecosystem in the Global South. Türkiye is emerging as a key player in PV R&D and manufacturing, and ODTÜ-GÜNAM—Türkiye’s national thematic research center for solar energy—stands at the core of this transformation. Founded to unify scientific excellence with industrial relevance, ODTÜ-GÜNAM has grown into a leading research and innovation center. Its integrated R&D infrastructure, commitment to open collaboration, and mission-driven focus on sustainable energy solutions exemplify the forward-looking spirit of the SilicoNPV community.

As founding Director, Chair of the Board and Silicon Photovoltaics Division Coordinator, and as one of the leading researchers, we have had the privilege of shaping ODTÜ-GÜNAM’s journey from its early vision to an internationally connected hub of solar research and technology. Hosting SilicoNPV 2026 in Ankara is both a personal honor and a collective milestone for our team. We are excited to share our experience and facilities with the global PV community—and to spark new ideas, partnerships, and breakthroughs together.

We look forward to welcoming you to Ankara—a city of learning, energy, and culture—as we explore the next chapter of solar excellence.

Warm regards,

Raşit Turan
Chair, SilicoNPV 2026 Conference

Hisham Nasser,

Co-Chair, SilicoNPV 2026 Conference