Published on: March 13, 2025 / update from: March 13, 2025 - Author: Konrad Wolfenstein
New super solar cells (perovskit) should accelerate Japan's energy transition-Japan's solar strategy with Sekisui Chemical-Image: Xpert.digital
Energy technology of the future: Japan's breakthrough with Perowskit cells
Advanced solar energy: Japan's way to the energy transition
Japan makes significant progress in solar energy technology with the development of perovskit solar cells (PSCs) that have the potential to fundamentally change the country's energy landscape. This innovative technology should not only support Japan's ambitious climate goals, but also reduce the dependence on fossil fuels and nuclear power. With flexible, light and highly efficient properties, these super solar cells could achieve electricity generation capacity by 2040, which corresponds to 20 nuclear reactors and thus make a decisive contribution to the Japanese energy transition.
The revolutionary perovskit technology
Perowskit solar cells fundamentally differ from conventional solar cells and promise a revolution in the way in which solar energy is used. In contrast to traditional silicon-based solar panels, PSCs are characterized by its high adaptability, low weight as well as its bending and flexibility in the production. These properties make them particularly valuable for the densely populated Japanese surroundings, where conventional solar panels are often impractical due to the limited area.
The versatility of the Perowskit solar cells opens up completely new applications. Thanks to your semi -transparent and light design, you can be installed on building walls and windows, on car roofs and on street lamps so that these areas can be used for energy generation. This flexibility is particularly important in cities with a limited space, where maximizing energy generation is of crucial importance without additional space requirements.
Perovskit solar cells have made impressive progress in terms of efficiency. Its efficiency is now at the level of traditional silicon-crystal panels at 26.1 percent, with a further increasing tendency, while silicon technology seems to be largely exhausted. The possibility is particularly promising to use PSCs in combination with silicon panels, which means that the efficiency can currently be increased to over 35 percent. In addition, the flexibility of PSCs enables the development of hybrid systems from wind and solar energy systems that can further improve the efficiency of renewable energies.
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Japan's strategic advantage through iodine production
An important aspect that strengthens Japan's position in the development of perovskit solar cells is its role as the second largest iodine producer in the world. Iodine is a necessary part in the production of perovskit solar cells. This resource position enables Japan to set up an independent supply chain and offers promising development opportunities for domestic industry. By using this natural resource, Japan could create a large part of a production chain, which is largely independent from abroad, in order to produce the huge amount of perovsky solar cells required.
Japan's ambitious solar plan
The Japanese government has submitted an ambitious plan to use the Perowskit technology. The country is aiming to install a solar capacity of 20 gigawatts by fiscal year 2040, which corresponds to the performance of around 20 nuclear reactors. With this capacity, Japan could not only shut down his active nuclear reactors, but also avoid the construction of new nuclear power plants in order to cover the future energy requirement if power plants are switched off with fossil fuels.
This initiative is part of a more comprehensive energy plan. On March 13, 2025, the Japanese government completed the draft of a fundamental energy policy that aims to increase the proportion of renewable energies in the electricity mix to up to 50 percent by 2040 in order to cover rising electricity requirements. In October 2021, Japan had already renewed his energy plan, with renewable energies being the main winners. For the first time, the sixth “Strategic Energy Plan” calls the goal of establishing solar, wind and hydropower as well as biomass from 2030 as the most important sources for energy generation in Japan, with a planned share of 36 to 38 percent at the energy mix.
The driving role of Sekisui Chemical
The company Sekisui Chemical is a central player in the implementation of Japan's solar strategy. With the support of the Development Bank of Japan (DBJ), Sekisui founded a new company in early 2025 that will develop, manufacture and sell Perowskit solar cells under Sekisui Chemicals. The total cost of the project is estimated at over 310 billion yen ($ 1.97 billion), with half the financing through state subsidies.
Sekisui is planning a gradual investment strategy, starting with 90 billion yen for the construction of a 100-megawatt production line until 2027, followed by a Gigawatt class production line until 2030. For this project, the company will buy and use plants in the Sharp plant in Sakai in western Japans. The aim is to achieve a capacity for the production of new cells, such as perovskit solar cells of 1 gigawatt per year, by the fiscal year 2030.
The company has already defined clear areas of application for its technology: "We want to use the light and flexible properties of the system to promote its application, especially in the public sector, for example in sports halls that serve as evacuation centers in disasters," says the company. In the long term, Sekisui plans to expand business by reducing the costs through mass production and at the same time the demand is boosting, with a focus on roofs and outer walls of factories and warehouses in the private sector.
Investments and production plans
Sekisui Chemical plans to build a manufacturing capacity of 1 gigawatt per year for perovskit solar cells by 2030. The company will invest a total of around $ 2 billion, with the Japanese government covering half of the costs.
The first step is to build a production line with a capacity of 100 megawatts per year from 2025 to 2027. For this purpose, Sekisui Chemicals invests 90 billion yen (about $ 570 million) and uses parts of a former Sharp plant in Osaka.
State support and partnerships
The Japanese government actively supports the project:
- The Ministry of Economic Affairs has given Sekisui Chemical a funding notice as part of the program for the expansion of supply chains for the green transformation.
- With 14%, the state development bank of Japan (DBJ) is involved in the newly founded company Sekisui Solar Film, which will build the production.
Technology and applications
Sekisui chemical specializes in the role-to-roll process for the production of thin, flexible perovsky solar cells. The current properties of the cells are:
- Efficiency: 15%
- Shelf life: 10 years
- Role width: 30 centimeters
Future goals are an efficiency of 20% and a durability of 20 years. The light and flexible solar cells are to be installed on roofs of public buildings such as gymnasiums. Later, applications are planned on roofs and walls of factories and warehouses.
Long term goals
The Japanese government is striving to contribute to electricity generation by 2040 with an output of around 20 gigawatts. Sekisui Chemical plans to play a central role in achieving the government goal of establishing a gigawatt production by 2030.
Breakthrough in perovskit solar cells: cheaper and durable than ever
Despite the enormous potential, perovskit solar cells are still facing some obstacles. The shelf life, which is very limited compared to silicon, and the high initial costs are two of the biggest challenges for PSCs. However, technology improves and researchers work on solutions such as improved passivation technology and more stable material combinations.
A remarkable progress was made in 2024 when a Chinese manufacturer presented commercial Perowskit cells for the first time, which should work for 12 years without dropout, with the manufacturer at least a ten-year guarantee. For a period of 25 years, the drop in performance should not suddenly, but linearly, which improves predictability.
A positive development is also evident in the costs. Forecasts assume that the costs in Japan from currently 20 yen (approx. 12 Eurocent) will decrease to 10 yen (approx. Six Eurocent) per watt by 2040. This reduction in costs will further increase the competitiveness of the technology and promote its broad application.
In Germany, the physicist Felix Lang discovered a remarkable property of Perowskit-Halbles: their self-healing powers. This discovery could significantly extend the lifespan of perovskit solar cells and contribute to improving solar cells and X-ray devices, with applications on earth and in space.
Japan's solar renaissance
Japan was once the world market leader in the production of solar modules, but the market share fell to less than one percent due to the competition of Chinese manufacturers. With PSC technology, Japan wants to take a stronger position on the global market again. This is reminiscent of the time after the 1973 oil crisis, when Japan's public and private sector worked together on the research and development of renewable energies, and the world market share for solar panels was temporarily overtaking before it was overhauled by Chinese companies at lower prices.
Since the nuclear disaster in Japan in March 2011, the country's solar energy scene has developed rapidly. Today, solar power generation contributes almost 10 percent to total energy production compared to a share of only 1.9 percent in 2014. The current energy plan provides to increase this share to 36 to 38 percent by 2030, whereby PSC technology should play a central role in order to exceed these figures by 2040.
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Diversification of renewable energies in Japan
While Perowskit solar cells are a focus of the Japanese energy strategy, the country also invests in other renewable energy sources in order to diversify its energy mix and increase energy safety. Japan strives to become a hydrogen society and has been pursuing a hydrogen strategy since 2017 that also supports the decarbonization goal by 2050. The Japanese government plans to invest in the hydrogen value chain of around 15 trillion yen (approx. $ 107 billion) over a period of 15 years.
In addition, Environment Minister Shinjiro Koizumi has announced that the ministry would take the lead to accelerate the development of geothermal energy. The Minister for Administrative Reform Taro Kono has announced the goal of doubleing Japan's geothermal systems by 2030. Cheap feed -in tariffs and the promotion of renewable energies should lead to a growing number of geothermal projects.
In addition, Japan also researches fusion energy as a long -term energy source. The country cooperates with the EU and the USA to accelerate the development of fusion energy, with private investments and cooperation playing an important role. At the end of March 2024, 21 companies founded the Japan Fusion Energy Council-J-Fusion for short-with the aim of promoting the technology and the standards together.
Implications for the global energy transition
Japan's massive investment in perovskit solar cells could have far-reaching effects on global energy landscape. If the technology is successfully used on an industrial scale, it could serve as a model for other countries, especially for densely populated nations with a limited space for traditional solar parks.
The Japanese government is confident that its investments will be successful in Perowskit solar cells. After supplying his own country, Japan plans to export this innovative technology to other countries, which could contribute to the global energy transition and strengthen Japan's position as a technology leader.
The development of perovskit solar cells is also part of a wider strategy of Japan to regain its technological leadership in various sectors. In addition to renewable energies, Japan also invests heavily in other future technologies such as software-defined vehicles (SDV), with the aim of reaching a share of 30 percent in the world market by 2030.
A solar further development for Japan's energetic future
Japan's investment in Perowskit solar cells marks a decisive step in the transformation of its energy landscape. The ambitious plans to install a capacity by 2040 that corresponds to 20 nuclear reactors show the country's trust in this innovative technology and their contribution to the energy transition.
With its flexibility, lightness and efficiency, Perowskit technology offers unique advantages, especially for a densely populated country like Japan. Although there are still challenges regarding durability and costs, the continuous progress in research and development shows that these hurdles can be overcome. The gradual implementation strategy with the aim of a gigawatt production by 2030 laid the foundation for the ambitious long-term goals.
The broad introduction of perovskit solar cells could not only help Japan to achieve his climate goals and to reduce the dependence on fossil fuels and nuclear power, but also to restore its position as a leading provider of solar technology. The strategic use of domestic iodine production and the extensive state investments underline Japan's determination of being successful in this future -oriented technology.
With this extensive approach, which includes both technological innovation and economic strategy, Japan positions himself as a pioneer in the global energy transition and shows a promising path to the sustainable energy generation of the future. The success of this plan could not only be of great importance for Japan, but for global efforts to affect sustainable energy.
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