SEKISUI is preparing to transform the renewable energy sector with its next-generation film-type perovskite solar cells. Featuring an ultra-lightweight, flexible, and thin design, the technology offers significantly broader application possibilities than conventional silicon solar panels. Manufactured using iodine instead of rare earth materials, the solar cells deliver 15.0% conversion efficiency and are designed to withstand outdoor conditions for up to 10 years. As part of its commercialization strategy, targeted for 2025, SEKISUI has signed a strategic cooperation agreement with the Slovak government to accelerate the deployment of the technology.
Compared with conventional silicon panels, the new perovskite solar cells are ten times lighter and twenty times thinner. Their flexibility allows them to be installed on building facades, curved surfaces, and rooftops with limited load-bearing capacity—locations where traditional rigid panels are often unsuitable. By utilizing readily available iodine rather than rare metals, the technology provides a more sustainable approach to localized renewable energy generation. Since launching its research and development program in 2013, SEKISUI has combined its expertise in sealing technologies, multilayer films, and precision roll-to-roll manufacturing to establish a 30-centimeter-wide production line.
The solar cells have successfully passed waterproofing and durability tests required for outdoor applications and are expected to maintain reliable performance for at least a decade. SEKISUI is currently evaluating the technology at its Osaka headquarters, where long-term energy production and operational performance are being monitored under real-world conditions. The pilot installation also supports the company’s objective of reducing the environmental footprint of buildings.
To accelerate commercialization, SEKISUI plans to expand production by introducing one-meter-wide roll-to-roll manufacturing while further improving cell efficiency. Supporting this strategy, the company signed a memorandum of understanding with the Slovak Ministry of Economy on February 9. The collaboration, covering the 2024-2026 period, aims to contribute to Slovakia’s carbon neutrality objectives through the deployment of perovskite solar technology, social implementation initiatives, and the development of supportive regulatory frameworks. Through its “Innovation for the World” vision, SEKISUI seeks to advance global decarbonization and build a more sustainable energy future.
Source: Solarbaba – In Turkish
