Japan Targets To Become 20 GW Strong Perovskite Market By 2040
Source：taiyangnews
METI proposes capital support & plans to discuss the same for the 7th Basic Energy Plan
Japan is looking to bring perovskite solar cells into large-scale commercial use with its next-generation solar cell strategy. (Illustrative Photo; Photo Credit: Taylan Celik/Shutterstock.com)
The Japanese Ministry of Economy, Trade and Industry (METI) is looking to introduce a target of installing around 20 GW of perovskite solar cell technology in Japan by 2040, starting with a power generation cost of JPY 20/kWh by 2025, JPY 14/kWh by 2030, and JPY 10/kWh by 2040.
Pointing to the conversion efficiency improvement of perovskite solar cells by about 1.5 times over the last 10 years, METI expects this to be the next-generation solar cell technology on its way to commercialization. Currently, however, it is the silicon cell technology that’s mainstream with about 95% market share.
Some companies in Japan are developing perovskite solar cells with plans to start commercial operations in fiscal 2025.
METI sees perovskite’s major benefit in its applicability for any surface due to such solar cells being lightweight and flexible. Installations will likely begin with rooftops and as power generation costs fall, these can be deployed on vertical surfaces such as walls and windows as well.
Additionally, Japan is also the world’s 2nd largest producer of iodine, a critical raw material for the production of perovskite solar cells. Therefore, it expects it to be easy to build a robust supply chain within the country.
“With regard to support for capital investment in next-generation solar cells, we will prioritize support for those that truly contribute to expanding their introduction and strengthening industrial competitiveness, and from a policy perspective, we will support investment of world-leading scale and speed,” it stated.
“We will constantly monitor the conditions that are the premise for implementing policy support, such as trends in overseas companies and markets related to next-generation solar cells, and trends in thin silicon solar cells, which compete in some markets, and flexibly review the nature of the policy from time to time, including reviewing goals and plans and accelerating/continuing support,” added METI.
METI plans to include this Next-generation solar cell strategy in the discussion of the country’s 7th Basic Energy Plan, due to be updated before the end of the current fiscal year in March 2025.