TALON PV will establish a pilot TOPCon solar cell line at Fraunhofer ISE’s PV-TEC
Fraunhofer ISE will help optimize design, processes, and training for its US factory’s 2026 launch on the pilot line
It will also support TALON PV in developing perovskite-silicon tandem cells beyond TOPCon technology
American solar cell manufacturer TALON PV is setting up a pilot production line at Fraunhofer ISE’s PV-TEC in Freiburg, Germany, to support its planned 4 GW TOPCon solar cell factory in the US. The pilot line will refine product design, manufacturing processes, and workforce training, ahead of commercial production in 2026.
To be set up at Fraunhofer ISE’s Photovoltaic Technology Evaluation Center (PV-TEC), the pilot facility will mirror the equipment that the US manufacturer will eventually use at the planned 4 GW US factory.
It will optimize the TOPCon product and processes of the new factory before it enters production, saving time and money, said Jochen Rentsch, Head of PV Technology Transfer at Fraunhofer ISE. The 4 GW cell plant in the US is scheduled to come online in Q1 2026 and become fully operational by Q1 2027.
At the sister pilot line at PV-TEC, the team will undertake further solar cell development once the production ramp-up is achieved in the US.
“With TOPCon solar cells in the G12 format, we are bringing the most advanced cell technology to market,” said Co-Founder and CEO of TALON PV, Adam Tesanovich. “At the same time, we are already preparing for the next generation of solar technologies, particularly perovskite-silicon tandem cells. Fraunhofer ISE is an ideal R&D partner to help drive these advancements alongside us.”
Earlier this year, TALON PV signed a license deal with US solar manufacturer First Solar for its TOPCon cell manufacturing patents (see North America Solar PV News Snippets).
TALON PV CEO Adam Tesanovich will join the panel discussion during Session 3 of the TaiyangNews 2025 Solar Made in USA summit to be held in Las Vegas, US, on September 8, 2025. Being held in collaboration with RE+ and EUPD Research, the event will feature leading names from the world of solar to discuss the future of US solar and storage manufacturing and future strategies for the players in light of the regulatory hurdles created by the OBBBA. Registrations are open and can be done here.