Arrays of flexible, lightweight modules would increase the range of options, including extending installation to buildings with low load endurance, and installation on walls to help to realize net zero energy buildings and houses (ZEB (Note 5) and ZEH). They will be presented at the NEDO results report meeting, to be held at the Pacifico Yokohama Annex Hall in Yokohama, Japan, on 22 September.Ĭrystalline silicon solar cells are the most widely used solar cells, but their arrays are heavy and inflexible, which restricts where and how they can be installed. These results were obtained as part "Development of high performance and reliable PV modules to reduce levelized cost of energy" from the New Energy and Industrial Technology Development Organization (NEDO). Toshiba will continue to refine the technology and expects to see further improvements in efficiency. Since this technology uses a flexible film substrate, it allows roll-to-roll fabrication that reduces costs.
The technology uses a film substrate and scribe (Note 3) process technology based on organic thin film solar cell (Note 4) module fabrication. Toshiba achieved this advance by developing a fabrication process technology for film-based perovskite solar cells. Toshiba has achieved both by developing a 5-square centimeter cell that delivers an energy conversion efficiency of 10.5% (Note 1), the highest yet realized in a multi-cell mini module. The main concerns are to increase cell size and to boost the energy conservation rate. Such compounds are easily and cheaply manufactured, and offer good development potential in terms of energy efficiency. Perovskite solar cells have a light harvesting layer formed with crystals of a compoun with a perovskite structure. Toshiba has made a significant advance toward the realization of light, flexible solar modules that can be used in diverse locations by fabricating a perovskite solar cell mini module (Note 2) with the highest energy conversion rate yet achieved.