Panasonic to mass-produce next-generation perovskite solar cells in fiscal 2029
The company plans full-scale production of the thin, flexible panels for installation on building windows and other surfaces.
Panasonic Holdings Corporation said it will begin full-scale mass production of perovskite solar cells, a next-generation solar technology, in fiscal 2029. The company envisions installing the cells on building windows and other surfaces. The announcement did not include specific figures such as the output or price of the products.
Perovskite solar cells use a material with a perovskite-type crystal structure in their power-generating layer. They are thin, light and can be bent. Conventional silicon-based solar cells are heavy and rigid, so they have been limited to places such as rooftops and flat ground.
Because they are thin and light, perovskite cells could be installed on building walls and windows, places where conventional solar panels have been difficult to use because of load limits and installation constraints. In urban high-rise buildings, where roof space is limited, windows could also be used as power-generating surfaces.
The announcement shows that the company has moved into the product commercialization stage. By setting fiscal 2029 as the target for mass production, the focus now shifts to finding installation sites and building manufacturing lines.
In Japan, the expansion of renewable energy and efforts to decarbonize are advancing. Solar power is positioned as one of the means to support energy efficiency in buildings and local consumption of locally generated electricity. Using the electricity generated within a building is expected to reduce purchases of power from the grid.
In general, the output of a solar cell depends on conditions such as the orientation of the installation surface, the amount of sunlight and temperature. When installed on windows, transparency and the balance with shading also become issues. Confirming durability and long-term power generation performance is also an essential challenge before mass production.
The key points to watch are how far the performance and durability of the cells will reach practical levels before mass production begins, and how prices will be set. What has been made clear so far is the timing of mass production and the policy on installation sites.
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The plan to mass-produce perovskite solar cells is seen as a move to expand the places where solar power can be installed. If the technology can add power generation to walls and windows where heavy, rigid silicon panels could not be placed, the idea of using buildings themselves as power sources becomes more realistic. The company's disclosure of a mass-production timeline signals that next-generation solar cells are entering the next phase of commercialization. Going forward, performance, durability and cost will determine whether the technology spreads.
Source: JAPAN Forward
This article was written by the editors based on the cited report and translated from Japanese. AI is used to assist in writing and translation.
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