U.S. solar cell manufacturer TALON PV, in collaboration with Fraunhofer ISE, is establishing a pilot line in Freiburg to replicate the company’s planned 4 GW TOPCon solar cell production facility in the United States. This approach enables early optimization of product design, process control, and workforce training before scaling up to mass manufacturing.
While the pilot line focuses on high-efficiency TOPCon cells in G12 format, both parties emphasize that the infrastructure will also serve as a foundation for next-generation cell architectures. In particular, TALON PV has identified perovskite-silicon tandem solar cells as a strategic priority for ongoing development.
Through the partnership with Fraunhofer ISE, TALON PV will leverage the parallel pilot line to accelerate its R&D pathway, bridging established industrial processes with the requirements of tandem integration.
Adam Tesanovich, CEO and co-founder of TALON PV, explained that this dual focus illustrates the company’s approach: deploying proven high-efficiency TOPCon technology immediately while actively preparing for the transition to perovskite-enhanced devices.
“With TOPCon solar cells in G12 format, we are bringing state-of-the-art cell technology to market,” Tesanovich said. “At the same time, we are already preparing for the next generation of solar technology, specifically perovskite-silicon tandem cells. Fraunhofer ISE is the ideal R&D partner to help us drive these advancements together.”
