Tandem PV acquires nexTC coating processes for perovskite solar panel efforts

Tandem PV, a U.S. company developing next-generation solar panels, has acquired nexTC, an Oregon-based firm that makes specialized coating technology used in these panels. The deal brings nexTC's coatings, patents, and its founder, Cory Perkins, into Tandem PV as the company works to scale up manufacturing at its demonstration factory in California.

The technology at the center of this deal is a "tandem" solar panel, which pairs a thin layer of a material called perovskite with a standard silicon layer. Each layer captures a different part of sunlight, so the panel produces more electricity from the same amount of roof or ground space than a conventional silicon-only panel. The coating technology nexTC brings helps manage how electric charge moves through the panel while still letting light reach the silicon underneath, which affects how efficient, durable, and manufacturable the panels end up being.

This news is about a business acquisition and technology development, not a product on the market yet. Tandem PV's factory currently produces panels at a small scale for testing and customer trials, not for widespread residential installation. So there's nothing to act on for your own roof right now. But it's a sign that perovskite-silicon tandem panels, which promise more power per panel than today's typical solar equipment, are moving closer to real manufacturing. If this technology reaches the market successfully, it could eventually mean more efficient solar options for homeowners, though pricing, availability, and timelines for that are not yet known.