U.S. solar manufacturers are racing to commercialize tandem solar panels, a technology they say could generate roughly 25% more electricity than most conventional panels and potentially challenge China’s dominance of the global solar industry, The New York Times reports.
The panels use multiple layers of materials to capture more sunlight, potentially allowing utilities and businesses to generate the same amount of power with less land and rooftop space. Companies including Qcells, First Solar and Tandem PV say their technology is nearing commercial readiness, with Qcells becoming the first manufacturer to make a tandem panel certified by safety testing and certification company UL Solutions and the International Electrotechnical Commission.
The technology could be particularly important as U.S. electricity demand rises because of data centers and artificial intelligence. Solar accounted for nearly 9% of U.S. electricity generation in 2025, up from 3% in 2020, while solar and batteries represented 70% of new U.S. grid capacity added during the first half of 2026. Solar farms currently have an average capacity factor of roughly 24%, while solar executives say tandem panels could exceed 31%, potentially allowing power producers to generate more electricity with fewer materials and less land.
However, manufacturers face major hurdles, including estimated costs three to 3.5 times those of conventional panels, questions about whether the technology can reliably last 20 to 30 years and competition from China, which controls about 80% of the solar panel market. U.S. solar development also faces political and permitting challenges.
