BIPV

Korea Electric Power Corporation (KEPCO), Korea's largest state-controlled electric utility, has announced plans to construct the nation's first large-scale commercial facility as a Zero Energy Building (ZEB) with an energy self-sufficiency rate of 100% or higher.

To achieve an energy self-sufficiency rate of 100% or more, KEPCO plans to expand the installation of high-efficiency solar panels and integrate cutting-edge energy technologies into the building. The utility intends to pilot technologies currently under in-house research and development, including perovskite building-integrated photovoltaics (BIPV) using glass window-type panels, ultra-high-efficiency tandem solar cells, and hydrogen fuel cells.

Researchers from Nanyang Technological University (NTU) have demonstrated fully vacuum‑processed ultrathin perovskite solar cells with MAPbI₃ absorber layers down to around 10 nm, achieving multi‑percent efficiency together with high transparency for building‑integrated use.

The team thermally evaporated MAPbI₃ in a planar p–i–n architecture and varied the absorber thickness from about 10 nm to several hundred nanometers. Devices with 10 nm, 30 nm, and 60 nm layers reached power conversion efficiencies of roughly 7%, 11%, and 12%, respectively, with open‑circuit voltage and fill factor remaining comparable to conventional 300–900 nm “bulk” devices, indicating low trap density and good optoelectronic quality.

TNO has announced the successful application of a perovskite solar module on foil to a roof tile. In doing do, the Dutch research organization has taken a step toward embedding solar generation directly into building materials.

Perovskite solar roof tile. Image credit: TNO

The test modules reached efficiencies of up to 13.8%, and even after installation on a curved composite roof tile, maintained 12.4% efficiency. These results show that bending the flexible perovskite foil has only a minimal impact on performance, highlighting the suitability of this technology for real-world architectural applications.

Reports suggest that wind and solar manufacturer Mingyang Smart Energy Group plans to invest more than RMB 3.5 billion (over US$508 million) in Zhongshan, Guangdong Province, to develop 6 clean energy-related projects.

Among these is a GW-scale building-integrated photovoltaics (BIPV) perovskite production line, which the company states would be the first GW-class project of its kind globally. 

BOE recently gave an update on its business layout, technical indicators and follow-up plans in the perovskite photovoltaics sector.

BOE’s foray into the perovskite sector is underpinned by its long-standing display know‑how. Perovskite and display devices share similar thin‑film architectures, so BOE’s strengths in glass processing, film deposition, encapsulation and production equipment transfer naturally into perovskite manufacturing and support large‑scale, automated production.

A recent study by researchers at Israel's Hebrew University of Jerusalem reports the development of a semi-transparent, color-tunable perovskite solar cell designed for integration into surfaces such as architectural glass and flexible substrates where conventional panels are not suitable. The devices are fabricated using a low-temperature process that combines plasma-assisted deposition of the electron transport layer with inkjet printing of 3D polymer pillars from a solvent-free, UV-curable monomer.

Schematic presentation of the main steps involved in the fabrication of a colorful, semi-transparent, flexible perovskite solar cell. Image from : EES Solar

The work, led by Prof. Shlomo Magdassi and Prof. Lioz Etgar from the Institute of Chemistry and the Center for Nanoscience and Nanotechnology, presents a method for controlling optical and mechanical properties without modifying the perovskite absorber layer. Optical transparency is adjusted by the spacing of the micrometric polymer pillars, which act as “optical holes” within the perovskite layer, enabling a balance between active area, average visible transmittance, and mechanical robustness.

TNO has unveiled and publicly demonstrated its new Mass Customization Line in Eindhoven. The Mass Customization Line has been developed to combine bespoke PV semi-finished products with a mass production volume to decrease costs. This research line can handle various PV-cell technologies and is prepared for perovskite cell technology. 

TNO hopes that it can enable solar films and integrated PV solutions to soon be fully customized to meet the specific requirements of the construction sector. This means solar energy can be easily and quickly integrated into building materials, façades, and roofs of both existing and new buildings. As a result, installation costs would drop significantly, and the energy transition will accelerate.

Earlier this month, it was reported that perovskite manufacturer UtmoLight signed a strategic cooperation agreement with Wuxi Xingyuan Green Energy Co., Ltd., a subsidiary of Wuxi Energy Group, to promote commercial applications of perovskite PV.

Under the agreement, the two parties will utilize UtmoLight’s perovskite PV technology in building-integrated photovoltaics (BIPV), zero-carbon industrial parks, and PV power plants. The first project under the partnership will be a 6.7 MW rooftop distributed PV plant, which UtmoLight says will be the largest single commercialized perovskite rooftop project to date. 

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.​

Japan-based Electric Power Development (J-POWER) has announced it has made an investment in Active Surfaces, a startup founded in 2022 that develops ultralight, flexible perovskite solar modules that peel-and-stick onto roofs, walls, and curved surfaces.

Through this investment, J-POWER will collaborate with Active Surfaces to conduct pilot tests utilizing the company’s products. As the next step, J-POWER aims to create new businesses by utilizing diverse perovskite solar cell products suited to various installation environments.