World’s first solar super-panel

 World's first solar super panel, unveiled by Japan : More power than 20 nuclear reactors  

The future is knocking on our door, all the time, too. But when it comes to technology, it seems that when we think everything has been invented, there is always some company which surprises us. And this is still happening in the renewable energy sector, where Japan is experiencing a radical change. Imagine for a moment that any surface can generate clean energy, from the roofs of buildings to bus stops and shop windows. This is what Japan is trying to do with its new super solar panel, what a great deal! An innovation which wants to transform everything we know today as renewable energy. Renewable energy in Japan will receive a seismic shift via perovskite solar cells, the latest development which would change the way solar energy is viewed. Lightweight, flexible and adaptable, these solar cells will provide a more viable means to producing energy within a city, responding to shortages of land and sustainable issues. 

This panel is created with a material called “perovskite”, which allows the creation of solar cells which are much more efficient, light and flexible than traditional ones (which we remember are made of silicon). Japan is currently utilizing its competitive advantages to lead the rest of the world into the new renewable energy age. Under its revised energy plan, the Ministry of Industry now prioritizes PSCs on Section 0 of its plan wherein Japan aims to develop PSC sections generating 20 gigawatts of electricity equivalent to 20 nuclear reactors by fiscal 2040. Imagine a future in which cities are supplied with clean energy thanks to solar panels that can be placed on any surface, from the roofs of buildings to bus stops or even on cars. Well, that future is getting closer thanks to Japan and its new perovskite-based super solar panel.

The strategy was designed to be closely aligned with the country’s commitment to net-zero emissions by 2050. At the centre of this strategy is Japan’s position as the second-largest iodine producer in the world, a necessary ingredient in the manufacturing of perovskite solar cells. This would allow an independent supply chain within Japan’s territory, enabling the country to improve its economic security, reduce dependence on foreign origins, and provide forward-looking developments for its domestic industries. Since the disaster which occurred in Fukushima in 2011, they have worked very hard to reduce their dependence on nuclear energy and have a clear objective: to lead a transition to renewable energy. And the best thing is that they are doing everything in their power to achieve this. Their government has updated its energy plan, making the construction of new power plants a priority. Japan was once the world’s leader in solar panel manufacturing, but its share has fallen to below 1% because of the subsidized competition from Chinese manufacturers. However, Japan can claim that it is again in a stronger position by PSC technology. Supported by the government, Sekisui Chemical Co. is now developing advanced PSC modules for their future application to a broad market in the 2030s.

So, with their goal of reaching 0 carbon emissions by 2050, this is key. And another point where they play to their advantage is that they have several strategies developed with Iod (an essential material for manufacturing perovskite solar cells). All this makes PSCs very different in the sense that they can totally redefine how and where solar energy can be collected. This makes traditional silicon-based panels quite impractical in countries which are densely populated, like Japan, when only large spaces can accommodate them. With high adaptability and lightness, bendability, and flexibility in manufacturing, PSCs can be integrated with urban environments easily. They can be installed on walls of buildings and windows, on car roofs and on streetlights, allowing these surfaces to be utilized for energy harvesting.

With government support and the development of PSC (perovskite crystal structure) technology, Japan is looking to regain its position lost to china. Companies such as Sekisui Chemical Co. are already working on these “next generation” solar panels. This invention solves the problem of space limitation in Japan to generate maximum energy in urban areas. The flexibility of PSCs will also allow hybrid systems, wind and solar energy systems, to be installed, further improving renewable energy efficiency. However, obstacles are still in place. Durability limit and high upfront cost are two of the significant concerns for PSCs today, but the technology is improving steadily, with predictions that costs will fall to JPY 10/W by 2040. The solar panels we use today are made of silicon, and although they are quite efficient, their main problem is that they need a lot of space to be installed, so in countries with a lot of available land this is not a problem. However, if we talk about smaller countries and where the population is much greater than the land (as is the case in Japan), traditional panels are not practical at all. The solar energy scene in Japan has evolved rapidly. Today, the solar electricity output accounts for almost 10% of the total energy production in the country, compared with the previous year’s share of only 1.9% in 2014.

The key to PSC is that they are much more flexible and lighter to manufacture, so they can be placed anywhere where traditional panels do not fit (such as on the roof of cars). So this invention would be solving one of the biggest problems Japan has, which is the lack of free space to set up solar energy farms. This way they could combine this energy with other types of renewable energy (such as wind energy) to achieve much greater efficiency. The current energy plan further aims to push this share by setting the target at 36%-38% of renewable energy sources consumption by 2030 and expects PSC technology to play big in crossing those figures by 2040. The predictions made by the government estimates regarding the cost with time states that PSCs are less expensive with JPY 20/W as of 2025 around which time it will also be lowered significantly after that.

With PSC technology, Japan makes serious commitment towards sustainable development. By harnessing its renewable natural resources and encouraging innovation, it positions itself as one of the leading nations in the globe for renewable energy. PSC technology will momentarily be affordable; hence, it will provide energy solutions to Japan while serving as a guide for other countries to prove the premise that wind and solar can create a greener world. These marks are critically relevant for making PSCs available to a broader audience and using them for more diversified applications. CE certified modules designed for durability and safety are geared to meet the demands of both domestic and commercial users. Of course, they are still facing many challenges, and although it is a very promising technology, there are two main problems that have not yet been solved. The first is that they are less durable than traditional panels and the second is that they have a high initial cost (but this is expected to improve over time as research is carried out on this new component).