This document presents the research development and social implementation direction for the "Next-Generation Solar Cell Development" project under the Green Innovation Fund program formulated by the Ministry of Economy, Trade and Industry, outlining development targets and strategies for innovative solar cell technology.
While Japan holds the world's third-largest solar power deployment, Chinese companies dominate solar cell manufacturing with overwhelming market share. This project aims to restore the competitiveness of Japan's solar cell industry through innovative next-generation technologies different from conventional silicon-based solar cells.
Development Targets for Next-Generation Solar Cell Technology
The project focuses on developing next-generation technologies centered on perovskite solar cells. Perovskite solar cells feature lightweight, flexible, and low-cost characteristics, enabling installation on building walls, curved surfaces, vehicles, and other applications. Ambitious targets of over 30% conversion efficiency and over 20 years durability have been set, aiming to achieve performance surpassing existing silicon-based solar cells.
Priority Development Areas and Technical Challenges
Development priority areas include materials technology, manufacturing process technology, module technology, and system integration technology. In particular, improving long-term stability of perovskite materials, establishing large-area manufacturing technology, and implementation technology on flexible substrates are positioned as important technical challenges. Development of ultra-high efficiency technologies such as tandem solar cells will also proceed in parallel.
Market Creation and Social Implementation Strategy
New market creation leveraging the characteristics of next-generation solar cells is planned. Expansion into applications difficult for conventional solar cells is expected, including building-integrated photovoltaics (BIPV), automotive solar cells, and agricultural solar cells. The plan aims to establish annual production capacity of 1GW domestically by 2030, followed by global market expansion.
Building Industrial Ecosystems
The project emphasizes building industrial ecosystems where material manufacturers, equipment manufacturers, module manufacturers, and system integrators collaborate. Establishing a domestically complete supply chain holds important significance from an economic security perspective. Additionally, competitive advantages in international markets will be secured through standardization and certification system development.
The article demonstrates that next-generation solar cell development is expected as a new growth field for Japan's renewable energy industry, simultaneously pursuing market creation through technological innovation and strengthening industrial competitiveness.