On July 11, China's Xianyang City held a signing ceremony for six optoelectronic industry projects in its High-tech Zone, totaling an investment of 7.8 billion yuan (approximately US$1.1 billion). Among the projects is a notable perovskite initiative led by Xi’an Tianjiao New Energy, focused on lightweight and flexible perovskite solar technologies.
The project builds on technology developed by Professor Wu Chaoxin’s team at Xi’an Jiaotong University, including a low-cost large-area fabrication process and high-reliability thin-film encapsulation. These advances are said to significantly improve both power conversion efficiency and operational stability, enabling ultra-thin, lightweight, and bendable photovoltaic devices.
The company targets a range of emerging applications, particularly in low-light and indoor environments. According to Wu Chaoxin, who serves as both company chairman and university professor, the technology is designed to convert diffuse and artificial light - such as from fluorescent sources - into electricity for powering consumer electronics. This positions perovskite cells as complementary to traditional crystalline silicon PV, which is optimized for outdoor, high-irradiance conditions.
End-use applications include Internet of Things (IoT) devices, building-integrated photovoltaics (BIPV), automotive PV, and aerospace systems - segments where lightweight and flexible form factors offer strong advantages.
Once fully operational, the project aims to reach a production capacity of 1 GW of lightweight flexible perovskite solar cells. The company also plans to establish what it describes as the first large-scale production line of its kind, with an annual output of up to 100 million perovskite modules.
Wu noted that prior to its Series A funding round in 2023, the team had invested approximately 95 million yuan to build a pilot line primarily used for prototyping and customer sample validation. The new facility represents a significant scale-up effort, moving the company from early-stage development toward industrial-scale production.
In addition to advancing commercialization, the project is expected to strengthen Xianyang’s position in the optoelectronics sector, particularly in photoelectric conversion materials and devices.
