GCL System Integration (GCL SI), the leading vertically integrated company that produces silicon to modules in-house, displayed a wide range of products and interesting solutions at Intersolar Europe 2025 in Munich. The company exhibited its latest back contact (BC) modules, along with the latest innovations in perovskite technologies, covering both single-junction and tandem-based PV modules, and its solutions supporting traceability and assessing the carbon footprint. Philipp Matter, President of Europe & Americas and Vice President of the Global Sales & Marketing Center at GCL SI, walked through some interesting exhibits from the company at the show.
The Perovskite Showcase
In the order of visitor interest, perovskites earn the first mention, and they were one of the major attractions at the GCL booth. The company exhibited a single-junction large-format perovskite PV module and a tandem module using crystalline silicon and perovskite. While the former is a perovskite on glass, the latter is a module tandem, i.e., perovskite-on-glass integrated on the top of a crystalline module. This is called the 4-terminal (4T) approach, where 2 different modules are fused together to work in tandem. For clarity, a major chunk of PV manufacturers and research centers are working on a tandem at the cell level, also referred to as 2-terminal (2T).
As to the specs, the single-junction perovskite module, measuring 2,000 × 1,000 mm, achieves a steady-state efficiency of up to 19.04%. On the other hand, the perovskite/silicon tandem version is labeled with an efficiency of up to 26.36% for a 1.71 m² surface area.
According to Matter, GCL has already signed its first commercial supply and testing agreement for perovskite modules with a European partner during the show. The company currently operates 100 MW of perovskite production capacity, while the building that houses this capacity can hold up to 2 GW. In its next stage of expansion, GCL aims to to reach 500 MW, which is expected to be online by Q4 2025. “This is the future,” Matter said, highlighting GCL’s determination to be among the first to industrialize perovskite solar modules at scale.
Carbon Data Traceability
Another key highlight at GCL’s booth was its digital tracking platform SiRo, which integrates modules with a QR code linked to a blockchain platform. This system offers transparent traceability of the module’s origin and full visibility into its carbon footprint. “You know exactly how much carbon has been used and where the modules come from,” Matter explained. As carbon accounting and ESG compliance gain prominence, especially in Europe, such embedded traceability tools might turn out to be interesting in procurement and project financing decisions.
The BC Range
As with many other mainstream players, GCL has also started investing heavily in BC technology. The company also displayed its latest BC module for residential applications. The module is labeled with 24.8% efficiency and 480 W power. According to Matter, GCL’s strategy with BC is to invest significantly, but not shift to 100% BC production at this stage. The company will evaluate the technology’s performance across different market segments over the course of the year before finalizing its long-term direction. As for market availability, the BC module is already on sale in the home country of the company, China, with a European launch slated for September 2025.
Low-Carbon Silicon
GCL is a somewhat unique player in the polysilicon segment. It is the only company to currently offer granular polysilicon produced using an advanced fluidized bed reactor (FBR), a low-cost and less energy-intensive alternative to the standard polysilicon produced using the Siemens process. GCL has been working on the technology for 15 years to optimize the process and currently exclusively relies on the technology with an annual granular silicon production capacity of 480,000 tons. According to Matter, the company’s FBR technology consumes up to 70% less energy, resulting in a carbon footprint up to 42% lower than the Siemens process. Notably, the FBR technology, featuring more continuous process steps, unlike the batch-based Siemens method, operates at a nominal temperature of 700°C, which is significantly lower than the 1,100°C required by its counterpart. He added that the company is currently seeing strong demand from its polysilicon clients for this low-carbon, spherical-shaped silicon, which improves transportation and processing efficiency.
