In order to be able to generate competitive electricity in the future without subsidies, photovoltaic modules must be developed further in the short and medium term. With this in mind, photovoltaic research at the EWE research centre for energy technology NEXT ENERGY is focusing on silicon thin-film technology. The scientists' primary goal is to achieve a significant increase in the efficiency of the cells and to contribute to an overall reduction in the cost of the technology. Since moving into the new institute building two years ago, the team led by division head Dr Karsten von Maydell has done a great deal of development work and launched research activities ranging from simulation to process control within a very short space of time. The Institute will be presenting its results to date at the 26th PVSEC - European Photovoltaic Solar Energy Conference and Exhibition - from 5 to 8 September 2011 in Hamburg. In order to optimise the efficiency of solar cells in a targeted manner, NEXT ENERGY scientists have developed computer models that simulate both the electrical and optical properties of solar cells in up to three dimensions. The data can be used to develop new design criteria that enable higher solar cell efficiencies. NEXT ENERGY has a coating system with six process chambers for the production of corresponding silicon thin-film solar cells. Here, silicon layers, transparent conductive oxides (TCOs) and metals can be deposited on a wide variety of substrates. The system can be used to reproducibly produce micromorph tandem solar cells with high efficiencies of more than ten per cent. The simulation models are also used for the development of the triple-junction solar cell. NEXT ENERGY scientists are researching the addition of a third solar cell to the tandem solar cell with the aim of better utilising the infrared part of the solar spectrum.