Panasonic

Five Japanese companies – Aisin, Enecoat Technologies, Sekisui Solar Film, Panasonic and Ricoh - have established the Japan Association for the Promotion of Perovskite Solar Cells (JPSC), a new industry alliance aimed at accelerating the deployment of PSC technologies in Japan. 

JPSC will focus on practical, industry‑wide issues needed for commercialization of PSCs, including:

• Unifying technical and product standards for perovskite solar cells and related modules
• Establishing safety and quality assurance frameworks and certification schemes
• Developing supply chains for materials, films and installation components
• Studying recycling and end‑of‑life treatment methods specific to PSC devices

In addition, the association intends to act as an interface with policymakers, submitting proposals and technical input as Japan moves to support domestic PSC manufacturing and deployment under its national energy strategy. 

Panasonic and YKK AP have announced the launch of verification testing in Osaka, in which they will be field testing building-integrated photovoltaic (BIPV) systems using glass-type perovskite solar cells, which are under development.

The setup uses Panasonic’s glass-based perovskite cells inside YKK AP’s inner-window frames in the YF Tanimachi Building, where YKK AP (Chiyoda-ku, Tokyo) is headquartered, and the goal is to measure real power output, check installation practicality, and evaluate long‑term durability and safety in an actual office.​

Panasonic has announced it will exhibit an artistic prototype based on glass-type perovskite solar cells at the Panasonic Group Pavilion "Nomo no Kuni" at the 2025 World Expo in Japan (Osaka-Kansai Expo). For this Expo, Panasonic has collaborated with Heralbony, which has worked on many projects to decorate towns with artworks drawn by artists with disabilities, to express "Kaede no Scissors" by Wajima Kaede, a contracted artist of the company.

Image credit: Panasonic

Panasonic's glass-type perovskite solar cells are characterized by their high degree of freedom in size, transparency, and drawing, achieved by combining unique material technology, inkjet coating methods, and laser processing technology. The company is currently developing the technology to commercialize the "power-generating glass". This prototype makes use of these features, broadening the scope of design expression using perovskite solar cells and demonstrating the possibility of creating a world where electricity is generated in a more natural way. This is the world's first case (according to Panasonic research as of February 14, 2025) where art has been expressed using perovskite solar cells.

Last week, it was reported that the Japanese government estimates the need for electricity output to rise 35% to 50% by 2050 due to growing demand from semiconductor plants and data centers backing artificial intelligence (AI).  Now, Japan's industry ministry has said that it will launch a public-private group this month with the aim of commercializing perovskite solar cells, which are thin, light and bendable. The consortium will see 150 public and private entities, including local governments, working together to accelerate the adoption of flexible perovskite solar panels. 

Perovskite solar cells, which can be installed flexibly in various places, such as on walls, are believed to hold the key to Japan's push for renewable energy. As the first step, the consortium will set a target for perovskite cell capacity by 2040. Current projections point to 38.8 GW, with the possibility of exceeding the capacity of conventional solar panels (70 GW) in the next decade, reaching 84.2 GW in 2050.

According to reports, Panasonic is planning to sell windows made of “power-generating glass”, with perovskite solar cells integrated into transparent panes, to deliver power for homes. The module reportedly has a conversion efficacy of 17.9%, which is said to be the second highest worldwide for a perovskite cell larger than 800 sq. centimeters, ( after China’s UtmoLight - 18.6%).

Panasonic has been developing the cells since 2014 but only recently completed a test project, which consisted of installing the innovative glass on the balcony of a model home in its smart-town project in Kanagawa prefecture.