BIPV - Page 2

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. 

Japan’s Green Innovation Fund is driving several major perovskite solar initiatives, one of which is a project involving Panasonic, Ricoh, and EneCoat. 

In addition to that first consortium, Ricoh has also joined forces with Daiwa House Industry and NTT Anode Energy, with their joint effort receiving separate support from the same Green Innovation Fund managed by NEDO. While the earlier project focuses on mass production and diverse applications—glass-type for construction integration (Panasonic) and thin films for flexible use (Ricoh and EneCoat)—the Ricoh–Daiwa House–NTT Anode Energy consortium aims for large-scale deployment of lightweight perovskite modules specifically suited for building-integrated and building-attached photovoltaic installations.

Building on earlier coverage of the EU’s PEARL project, new results at month 18 of its three-year run reveal progress towards the consortium’s ambitious goals for flexible perovskite solar cells with carbon electrodes. By leveraging advanced materials research and pilot-scale roll-to-roll manufacturing, PEARL has delivered key technical achievements with direct impact on scalability, efficiency, and sustainability.

The researchers have now fabricated solar cells on flexible PET substrates that surpass 21% efficiency. Notable advances include a record 21.6% power conversion efficiency by Spain’s ICIQ using molecular surface passivation, 17.03% by Rome Tor Vergata with green perovskite solvents, and 14.8% by VTT through a gravure-printed process. The Dutch TNO group achieved 9.1% efficiency using fully roll-to-roll coating, while minimodules of 36 cm² have displayed 4.5% efficiency.

Perovskite solar startup Bilight Innovation, founded in late 2023, has announced the completion of an angel investment round. Investors include a listed Japanese company and a Chinese state-owned investment institution, though the exact amount has not been disclosed. 

The company claims to have successfully produced what it describes as the world’s lightest, thinnest, and most flexible perovskite PV devices on its pilot line. These devices are reportedly only 0.1 mm thick, bendable, and rollable, suitable for curved surfaces, wearable devices, and aerospace applications. 

Textile Ceramic Technology (TCT) is an innovative industrialized dry-construction system that incorporates a stainless-steel wire mesh as a structural framework for embedding ceramic tiles. Recently, researchers from Spain's International University of Catalonia (UIC), Leitat and France's Grenoble Alpes University set out to integrate photovoltaic (PV) solar cells into the TCT framework, creating a system capable of efficiently constructing industrialized photovoltaic envelopes that can cover large surfaces in a timely manner. 

The team opted for perovskite-based PVs due to several key advantages, including low cost, lightweight design, and customizable coloration. These properties not only enhance energy generation but also provide aesthetic possibilities. The versatility of the TCT system allows for a wide range of architectural designs based on a fundamental modular element—the brick—facilitating diverse configurations. This synergy between perovskite technology and the adaptable nature of TCT opens new opportunities for creating visually appealing and energy-efficient building envelopes.