Chairpersons' message

Dear SiliconPV Community,

We are thrilled to welcome you to the Silicon Photovoltaics Conference 2025 in the historic and academic city of Oxford, UK.

The journey of solar power has defied expectations, becoming one of the most cost-effective forms of energy generation. This remarkable progress underscores the profound technological and commercial strides in recent years. Today, solar modules exhibit unparalleled efficiencies, and the cost of solar energy has plummeted to unprecedented lows. The industry's focus on efficiency has transformed solar from a niche solution to a cornerstone of global energy strategies.

The silicon solar community is witnessing remarkable progress. Single-junction silicon cells and modules continue to push the boundaries of efficiency, approaching theoretical limits that were once considered unattainable. Recent months have seen record-breaking advancements in heterojunction and TOPCon devices, while perovskite on silicon tandem cells now approaches an impressive 35% efficiency. This wave of innovation is further complemented by the rapid expansion of module production capacities, positioning the solar manufacturing industry for terawatt-scale deployment, a critical step in mitigating global warming.

This prospective scale of deployment brings significant challenges, particularly in sustainable manufacturing and developing a robust industrial sector for solar energy. The SiliconPV Conference 2025 will delve into these pressing issues, covering advances in industrial silicon solar cells, including novel passivating contacts for PERC and TOPCon, silicon heterojunction technology, back contact cell architectures, and silicon defect engineering. We will also explore silicon-based tandem solar cells, such as perovskite on silicon and III-V on silicon tandems, along with sustainable manufacturing practices aimed at terawatt-scale solar energy production. Furthermore, the conference will address characterisation, modelling, and simulation techniques, as well as discuss cutting-edge module technologies and PV systems integration.

With its rich academic excellence and innovation history, Oxford provides an ideal backdrop for this conference. We aim to foster an environment that encourages the exchange of ideas, collaboration, and the generation of novel solutions to the solar industry's challenges. This conference will cover the full spectrum of topics vital to solar energy's continued success and sustainability, from advanced silicon materials to cutting-edge manufacturing processes, from single-junction to tandem solar cells. We will also provide a rich cultural and entertainment programme, allowing you to enjoy the stunning architecture, historic landmarks, and a vibrant cultural scene in Oxford. We encourage you to take advantage of these offerings and immerse yourself in the unique blend of tradition and innovation that Oxford embodies.

In addition to SiliconPV, we are pleased to host the nPV workshop, enriching the program with a comprehensive week of solar-related events. This convergence of expertise and knowledge promises to drive forward the boundaries of what is possible in solar technology. We eagerly anticipate your contributions and look forward to the stimulating discussions and innovative ideas that will emerge. Join us in Oxford for the SiliconPV 2025 Conference and nPV Workshop as we collectively advance the future of solar energy.

Sincerely,

Sebastian Bonilla

Chair, SiliconPV 2025 Conference

Matthew Wright

Chair, nPV Workshop 2025