Tandem PV Secures $4 Million CEC Grant for Commercialization of High-Efficiency Solar Panels

California-based solar innovator Tandem PV has received a USD 4 million grant from the California Energy Commission (CEC) to fast-track the market readiness of its cutting-edge perovskite-silicon tandem solar panels. 

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This latest award strengthens the company’s push to expand domestic manufacturing and bring ultra-efficient, durable solar technology to commercial scale.

The CEC grant will support extensive third-party testing and validation of Tandem PV’s solar panels. These panels combine a thin film of perovskite with conventional silicon cells in a dual-layered structure to deliver superior energy efficiency and cost advantages.

The funding aims to establish the readiness of these panels for broad deployment, reinforcing their potential to drive decarbonization and US energy self-sufficiency.

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“This award accelerates our durability testing to bring us closer to delivering a new standard for clean energy,” said Colin Bailie, Founder and CTO of Tandem PV. “We’re grateful to the California Energy Commission’s leadership in investing in technologies that will power the country’s clean energy future.”

A Benchmark in Solar Efficiency

Tandem PV’s panels currently achieve a power conversion efficiency of 28 percent, making them about 30 percent more powerful than conventional silicon-only modules. This improvement stems from the combination of perovskite’s high light absorption with silicon’s proven stability.

The company anticipates surpassing 30 percent efficiency by the end of 2025, pushing the boundaries of what solar panels can deliver under real-world conditions.

“California has long been a global leader in solar innovation, and we’re proud to be part of the next chapter,” said Scott Wharton, CEO of Tandem PV. “This support from the CEC signals strong momentum for tandem solar technology and helps ensure that the next wave of clean energy breakthroughs are developed and manufactured here in the US.”

With support from the CEC, Tandem PV will collaborate with independent laboratories and technical institutions to evaluate the panels’ performance. These tests will measure durability, environmental resilience, and long-term energy yield.

The goal is to confirm the reliability of the panels under diverse operational conditions, validating the strong performance metrics as observed in internal lab studies.

Funding and Industry Recognition

This CEC grant follows a USD 5.2 million award from the US Department of Energy (DOE) in late 2024, part of the DOE’s thin-film solar initiative. That funding is being used to scale the manufacturing of Tandem PV’s technology and support its transition to commercial deployment.

In addition to government backing, Tandem PV recently raised USD 50 million in Series A funding and has secured a total of USD 87 million in venture capital, debt, and public funds. Investors include Eclipse, Constellation Energy, the DOE, and the CEC.

Notably, TIME Magazine named Tandem PV one of the Top GreenTech Companies of 2025, both in the US and globally.