The UFH–PV programme focuses on photovoltaic materials research, including simulation of solar cell efficiency and optimisation of manufacturing processes. The team measures device stability and efficiency, studies system and module degradation, and develops in-house data acquisition systems. A key long-term objective is the development of high-efficiency quantum dot solar cells (25–30%) with potential for local manufacturing.

Complementary non-funded and third-party research activities include building-integrated PV, advanced solar resource meteorology, and an agrivoltaic station designed to combine high solar conversion efficiency with agricultural productivity. Further work explores PV energy communities with internal energy trading in partnership with Eskom, grid-integrated PV and battery energy storage systems for large-scale deployment, and the reuse of recycled PT fuel-cell electrodes for photovoltaic applications.