Tandem PV has acquired nexTC Corporation, an Oregon-based developer of advanced thin-film metal oxide coating processes.
The acquisition brings nexTC’s coating technology, intellectual property, and technical expertise directly into Tandem PV as the company scales its Fremont demonstration line toward commercial production.
nexTC specializes in solution-based transparent oxide coatings, which are ultrathin layers used in tandem solar panels that modify charge transport while allowing sunlight to reach the silicon cell below. These coatings play an important role in module efficiency, durability, and manufacturability.
Founded in 2018 as a spinout from an NSF-funded research center at Oregon State University, nexTC’s work has contributed to 17 peer-reviewed publications and six patent applications. Founder and CEO Cory Perkins, Ph.D., will join Tandem PV as part of the acquisition.
“After collaborating with Tandem PV on several projects, I saw a team that combines strong science with the ability to move technology onto a manufacturing line,” said Perkins, in a statement. “Joining Tandem gives us the opportunity to integrate nexTC’s coating technology directly into a manufacturing platform advancing toward commercial-scale production.”
The acquisition follows the opening of Tandem PV’s 65,000-square-foot commercial demonstration factory in Fremont, California, which houses a production line with approximately 40 megawatts (MW) of annual nameplate capacity. The facility is currently producing large-format tandem solar panels for customer validation and market trials.
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