Innovations Efficiency & Energy Reduction

SEKISUI Film-type Perovskite Solar Cells

Film-type Perovskite solar cells are SEKISUI’s latest innovation. They are a next-generation type of solar cell using a crystalline structure called perovskite. Lightweight and flexible, they can be installed in various locations including building walls, limited loadbearing roofs and curved surfaces such as vehicle bodies.

Perovskite solar cells are expected to accelerate the spread and expansion of renewable energy, to contribute significantly to achieving carbon neutrality and to become a solution to the energy crisis from the perspective of energy self-sufficiency.  Compared to silicon solar panels, which are currently mainstream, they are about 1/10th the weight, about 1/20th the thickness, and easy to bend.

Longevity and decarbonisation

Perovskite is a type of oxidised mineral that does not require rare metals. The main raw material is iodine.

“We started searching for technologies related to perovskite solar cells around 2013. We worked on the encapsulation technology and film-forming technology required for film-type perovskite solar cells. Since we have the major global market share in sealing materials and interlayer films, we thought that our development and manufacturing technology would be useful.”

SEKISUI Development Team Leader

Further research has enabled SEKISUI engineers to combine the Perovskite technology with another technology already developed within SEKISUI: the precision coating process for roll-to-roll production.

As a result, SEKISUI CHEMICAL has created a 30 cm-wide roll-to-roll manufacturing process using its original “sealing, film formation, materials and process technology”.

Roll-to-roll production of perovskite solar cells. SEKISUI CHEMICAL’s unique process technology is utilised.

Other key factors that engineers had to work on for an outdoor product are waterproofing and durability. SEKISUI's next-generation product has been confirmed to have an equivalent outdoor durability of 10 years, which is considered critical for the development of film-type perovskite solar cells. In addition, this manufacturing process has been successfully used to produce film-type perovskite solar cells with a power generation efficiency of 15.0%.

The next steps are to leverage the research and development to establish a manufacturing process for 1m-wide rolls and to further improve durability and power generation efficiency.

Setting up and commercialisation

Currently, SEKISUI CHEMICAL is proceeding with technological verification as well as installation and construction method establishment through installation in a variety of applications, aiming for commercialisation in 2025.
The image on the left shows a building material panel with film-type perovskite solar cells.

Perovskite solar cells are also being installed on the walls of the SEKISUI CHEMICAL Osaka headquarters building, in conjunction with its renovation to reduce the building’s environmental impact. They will also be used for long-term quality assessment, including monitoring the amount of power generated by the cells and changes over time.

Image of SEKISUI CHEMICAL Osaka Headquarter with Film-type perovskite solar cells.

 

 

SEKISUI Perovskite solar cells’ first joint Study in Europe

On February 9, SEKISUI CHEMICAL CO., LTD. announces that it has signed a Memorandum of Understanding (MOU) with the Slovak Republic’s Ministry of Economy to conduct a joint study with universities and research institutions in the Slovak Republic from 2024 to 2026. 
The signing ceremony was with the Slovak Republic’s Deputy Prime Minister and Minister of Economy Denisa Saková and SEKISUI CHEMICAL President Kato.

The study will examine how SEKISUI CHEMICAL’s film-type perovskite solar cells can contribute to the promotion of carbon neutrality in the Slovak Republic as well as issues for social implementation, including the solar cell-related laws and regulations.

President Kato, Deputy Prime Minister and Minister of Economy, Denisa Sakova, and Deputy Prime Minister and Minister of the Environment, Tomás Talaba, from the Slovak Republic.

SEKISUI CHEMICAL Group set its vision statement as “Innovation for the Earth” in Vision 2030, its long-term vision. Working on new technologies and businesses that contribute to decarbonisation are part of the company’s projects to support the basis of life and to continue creating “peace of mind for the future” in order to realise a sustainable society.

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