Sekisui Chemical Charges Ahead With Bendable Perovskite Solar Cells

• Sekisui Chemical is investing $68 million to mass produce perovskite solar cells (PSCs) with 10-year durability and 15% efficiency. Japanese gov't is supporting this cutting edge tech to install in public facilities.

Sekisui Chemical, a Japanese plastics maker, is aiming to catch up with Chinese competitors by mass producing perovskite solar cells (PSCs). The company will invest over 10 billion yen (USD $68 million) to build a new facility and aims to produce several hundred thousand square meters of them by 2030. Sekisui's technology for sealing liquid crystal displays is used to prevent moisture from seeping in and the bendable cells reportedly have a 10-year durability. The cells have an energy conversion efficiency of 15%, which is lower than that of silicon, but Sekisui Chemical is working to improve this with the production of 1 meter-wide films, which are more efficient and cost effective. The Japanese government is supporting the development of mass production of PSCs by installing them in public facilities and with other measures.

Can Sekisui Chemical Mass Produce Perovskite Solar Cells?

• Sekisui Chemical is aiming to catch up with Chinese competitors in mass producing perovskite solar cells, investing over 10 billion yen (USD $68 million) to build a new facility.
• The cells reportedly have a 10-year durability and an energy conversion efficiency of 15%.
• Sekisui Chemical is working to improve the efficiency with the production of 1 meter-wide films, which are more efficient and cost effective.
• The Japanese government is supporting the development of mass production of PSCs by installing them in public facilities and with other measures.
• In order to mass produce PSCs, Sekisui Chemical is working with universities and research institutes to develop technology with the aim of producing several hundred thousand square meters of PSCs by 2030.
• Sekisui Chemical is also developing technology to produce solar cells without using lead, which is a toxic element used in the making of PSCs.
• The company is also working on increasing the lifespan of solar cells to more than 20 years.