Tokyo Government Exploring Perovskite Solar Cell Technology

• Sekisui Chemical will deploy its thin-film perovskite solar cells for a water reclamation center in Tokyo
• It will assess power generation efficiency of these cells and verify their corrosion resistance performance with the research project
• The company sees potential for these cells to be installed in public facilities with large scale buildings such as sewage facilities

The Tokyo Metropolitan Government has embarked on a research project with local plastics manufacturer Sekisui Chemical that will deploy its thin-film perovskite solar cells on a portion of Tokyo's Morigasaki Water Reclamation Center to assess power generation efficiency and verify corrosion resistance performance of these cells.

Under the pilot to be completed by Spring 2023, Sekisui will formulate the research plan, install the cells then analyze findings. The administration will do overall coordination, make the site available for installation and provide technical advice and evaluation.

The Japanese company produces thin-film perovskite solar cells with power generation efficiency of 15% using a self-developed roll-to-roll manufacturing process and claims to have achieved outdoor durability of 10 years. By 2025, the overarching aim is to set up a manufacturing process for 1m wide rolls using Green Innovation Fund of the New Energy and Industrial Technology Development Organization (NEDO).

According to Tokyo Metropolitan Government, "There is a possibility of mass production and reduction of manufacturing cost through the development of (thin-film perovskite) manufacturing technology. In addition to being a technology originating in Japan, about 30% of the world production of iodine, the main raw material, is produced in Japan. With these features, it is expected to be highly competitive with silicon-based solar cells."

Starting with the Morigasaki project, Sekisui will install these cells for a variety of applications to ensure technological verification and establish installation and construction methods.

Sekisui sees unexplored potential market for thin-film perovskite cells in public facilities with large scale buildings such as sewage facilities.

In August 2022, Sekisui said it will install its perovskite cells in the public square of Umekita station in Japan's Osaka and co-create a JR WEST LABO as a partner to support West Japan Railway Company (JR West) to realize its 1^st zero electricity-derived CO2 train station.