日本三方提升钙钛矿电池耐久性，短期难形成可交易利好

TOKYO/NIIGATA, Japan -- Japan's Toshiba and Shin-Etsu Chemical, working with Niigata University, have developed a perovskite solar cell that is 1.5 times more durable than existing alternatives, giving it the world's highest durability and an edge in the competition with Chinese manufacturers currently leading the race to mass-produce next-generation solar cells.
The long-life perovskite solar cells are expected to hit markets in the 2030s.
In the three-way project, Toshiba developed the cell, while Shin-Etsu makes the casing that protects the cell. Niigata University developed the casing technology that helped improve the cell's durability.
The new technology to be commercialized features a tandem cell that combines a perovskite layer and a silicon cell layer. Theoretically, a tandem cell offers roughly 30% better power generation efficiency than a thin, foldable film solar cell.
The prototype the three partners are currently testing has a cell unit of 25 square millimeters. For commercial production, they will test whether a module with a cell unit larger than 250 square centimeters is capable of delivering the same performance as the prototype. The team hopes to increase the durability to more than 20 years before commercialization.
Testing has confirmed that the new cells are 1.5 times more durable than existing products. They can generate electricity for around 3,000 hours in a harsh environment with an air temperature of 85 C and 85% humidity. Perovskite cells developed by the National University of Singapore and Chinese manufacturers were previously regarded as the world's most durable, offering 2,000 hours of power under similar conditions.
Perovskite solar cells are vulnerable to heat and humidity. Toshiba, Shin-Etsu and Niigata University worked on ways to prevent degradation, including sealing the cells with a synthetic rubber material that contains desiccants.
While Chinese manufacturers hold the largest share of the global solar panel market, Japanese manufacturers are challenging them with high durability and power-generation efficiency. Japanese chemical maker Kaneka hopes to develop a panel with an efficiency of more than 40% by 2035, while solar-panel manufacturer Choshu Industry is aiming for durability of more than 20 years by fiscal 2030.
Solar power has grown in Japan in recent years under a feed-in tariff (FIT) system introduced in 2012. This requires utility companies to buy electricity from solar panel owners at a fixed, guaranteed price for a long period. As many panels have a lifespan of 20 to 30 years, replacement demand is expected to rise after the 2030s.
The Ministry of Economy, Trade and Industry hopes to introduce perovskite solar panels capable of generating a total of 20 gigawatts in Japan by 2040. That is equal to the power produced by around 20 nuclear reactors. Improving the efficiency of tandem cells is key to achieving that goal.
Although the perovskite solar cell technology originated in Japan, Chinese companies are stepping up their development of the technology. Helped by ample government subsidies, Chinese companies have developed the largest number of patents in the world related to the technology.