Noak, an imec and UHasselt spin-off, has raised €5 million to develop its perovskite-silicon tandem technology
Its 3D-woven foil integrates electrical connections on the rear, with the aim of reducing front-side shading
It has conducted outdoor testing at more than 10 sites across Asia, Europe, and North America
Belgium-based startup Noak, a spin-off of imec and Hasselt University (UHasselt), is working to bring its perovskite-silicon tandem solar cell technology closer to industrial production. The company has raised €5 million in seed funding from the Helios Foundation, Nuhma, and V2HFin to further develop and scale up its manufacturing.
While mainstream silicon technology is approaching its practical efficiency limit, tandem configurations offer a route towards higher conversion efficiencies. Noak’s approach also focuses on cell interconnection, using a proprietary 3D-woven foil that integrates the electrical connections on the rear side. This most likely indicates that the company is working on perovskite-silicon back-contact cell architecture. Additionally, by dividing the tandem cells into smaller sub-cells, Noak says there are several interconnection design options for connecting individual cells. The company has not yet disclosed the detailed construction of the foil, the specific metallization materials, or the electrical interconnection process.
As long-term stability remains a key challenge for perovskite-silicon tandem technology, the team has performed outdoor testing at more than 10 sites across Asia, Europe, and North America. These tests exposed the cells to different operating conditions, including intense sunlight, heavy rainfall, extreme heat, and sub-zero temperatures.
Noak is also incorporating end-of-life (EoL) considerations into its cell and module architecture. Its stated approach includes design for disassembly on demand, aiming to make it easier to separate components and recover materials at the end of a module's service life. The company is also working with suppliers to use certified recycled metals.
Geert Palmers, CEO of Noak, says, “Noak’s innovation goes beyond technology alone. Through global industrial collaborations, we aim to build a value chain without creating vulnerable dependencies.”
