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Achieved a conversion efficiency of over 30% with a perovskite/silicon 4-terminal tandem solar cell.

EneCoat Technologies Co., Ltd (Head Office: Kumiyama-cho, Kuze-gun, Kyoto; President: Naoya Kato) has achieved a conversion efficiency of over 30% with a 4-terminal tandem cell consisting of stacked perovskite and crystalline silicon solar cells in a joint development project with Toyota Motor Corporation. Ltd.

This achievement underscores the profound research and development capabilities of both companies in the field of perovskite solar cells and accelerates the practical application of high-efficiency solar cells, which is the objective of the joint development project.

Solar cells used in automobiles, satellites, and other applications are required to have the highest possible conversion efficiency due to the limited area available for their installation. While the theoretical conversion efficiency of perovskite solar cells alone is 33.7%, the theoretical conversion efficiency of tandem-type solar cells, which are made by stacking perovskite solar cells and crystalline silicon solar cells, is 43.8%, far exceeding the value of standalone solar cells.

Tandem solar cells have a structure with a perovskite solar cell and a crystalline silicon solar cell, each of which has its own power generation layer, in order from the light-receiving side. The perovskite solar cell first generates power with light energy in the visible light region, and the crystalline silicon solar cell generates power with light energy in the infrared region, which is not absorbed by the perovskite. The perovskite solar cell is the first to generate electricity. Therefore, perovskite solar cells are required to have both high power generation capability in visible light and the ability to transmit infrared light to crystalline silicon without loss. This time, the two companies focused on the transmittance of perovskite solar cells and succeeded in improving the infrared transmittance to 81%.

 

 

When solar cells are installed on the roof of an automobile, they are required to follow the roof shape. The two companies developed a film-type perovskite solar cell and achieved a conversion efficiency of 22.4%, which is extremely high for a see-through type solar cell. 22.4% conversion efficiency and 81% infrared transmittance have never been reported before in the world, proving the superior technology of the two companies. By combining this film-type perovskite solar cell with a crystalline silicon solar cell, we have achieved a world-class conversion efficiency of 30.4% as a 4-terminal tandem solar cell.

The conversion efficiency values obtained in this development were measured in a small area at the cell level, and we will continue to develop the large size modules of solar cells to achieve the practical application of high efficiency solar cells that will bring benefits to users.

The results will be presented at The Asia-Pacific International Conference on Perovskite, Organic Photovoltaics and Optoelectronics ( IPEROP25), which will be held on January 21 and 22, 2025, at Kyoto University’s Uji Campus.

About EneCoat Technologies

Enecoat Technologies is a startup company established in January 2018,based on the research results of Atsushi Wakamiya’s laboratory at the Institute for Chemical Research, Kyoto University. The company’s corporate mission is to contribute to the realization of a carbon-neutral society through the development of lightweight thin-film solar cells for high-illumination (outdoor) applications.

The development of solar cells for automotive applications is part of the aforementioned (2) contribution to the realization of a carbon-neutral society through lightweight thin-film solar cells for high-illumination (outdoor) applications, and we are committed to realizing a rich automotive lifestyle and reducing CO2 emissions in the automobile sector.

 

Press release here 

 

Company Name : Enecoat Technologies Co.Ltd., https://www.enecoat.com/
Location: 43-1 Sako Sotoyashiki, Kumiyama-cho, Kuse-gun, Kyoto, Japan
Representative: Naoya Kato, Representative Director, Executive Officer and CEO
Capital ：JPY 90 million
Business: Development, manufacture and sales of perovskite solar cells and related materials, etc.

 

EneCoat Technologies Raises Series C Round, Totaling 5.5 Billion Yen Accelerating development of proprietary perovskite cell technology that can diversify solar supply chains, support IoT devices and mobility applications

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EneCoat Technologies Co., Ltd and Toyota Commence Joint Development of Perovskite Solar Cells for Automotive Applications ～Next-generation solar cells with high power generation efficiency and expected to reduce CO2 emissions during driving

  • update:
    2023.06.27
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Launching a verification operation of next generation solar cells (Perovskite Solar Cells) installed in IoT Co2 sensor terminal in Tokyo Metropolitan Government facilities.

  • update:
    2023.06.19
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EneCoat Technologies Co., Ltd (Head Office: Kumiyama-cho, Kuze-gun, Kyoto; President: Naoya Kato) has announced today a collaboration with Macnica, Inc. (Headquarters: Kohoku-ku, Yokohama; President: Kazumasa Hara), a total service and solution provider in semiconductors, networking, cyber security, and AI/IoT, and the Tokyo Metropolitan Government announced today that they have started verification operation of IoT CO2 sensor terminals equipped with perovskite solar cells (PSCs), which are considered a major next-generation solar cell technology, inside Tokyo Metropolitan Government facilities. PSCs have excellent power generation performance both indoors and outdoors, and because they are thin, light, and bendable, they have a much wider range of applications compared to conventional solar cells, and can provide an independent power source anywhere as long as there is a light source, from small devices around us to in-car power sources, wall mounting, and space applications. Enecoat has developed PSCs optimized for IoT terminals in terms of power generation capacity and shape, and has been conducting verification operation of air quality sensors employing PSCs made by Enecoat in collaboration with Macnica since last year　and to further materialize the efforts, the agreement for the verification operation was signed by Macnica, the Tokyo Metropolitan Government, and EneCoat. By having the Tokyo Metropolitan Government provide offices within the Tokyo Metropolitan Government Building as an environment for air quality monitoring operation, Macnica, the Tokyo Metropolitan Government, and EneCoat will be able to further advance the study and verification of the mass production of IoT sensors equipped with PSCs. ■Roles in the Demonstration Experiment Macnica Corporation: Provision of sensors and systems with perovskite solar cells, installation, measurement, dissemination of the project, etc. Tokyo Metropolitan Government: Provision of Tokyo Metropolitan Government facilities for the verification experiment, overall coordination of the project, dissemination of the project, etc. EneCoat Technologies Inc: Provision of perovskite solar cells, verification of power generation performance, dissemination of the project, etc. EneCoat is a Kyoto University startup established in 2018 to commercialize the research results of Atsushi Wakamiya’s laboratory at the Institute for Chemical Research, Kyoto University, and has positioned as a corporate mission to contribute to (1) the promotion of IoT by devices using highly efficient solar cells for low illumination and (2) the realization of a carbon neutral society by lightweight thin film solar cells for high illumination. Taking the opportunity of the development of the IoT CO2 sensor, EneCoat will expand its lineup of high-performance PSCs for sensors and wearable devices, aiming to start production by the end of 2024.

Our company was featured on BBC News.

  • update:
    2022.10.06
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    Media

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It was published in Nihon Keizai Shimbun.

  • update:
    2022.03.04
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It was published in Nikkei xTECH.

  • update:
    2022.01.20
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