SEKISUI CHEMICAL CO., LTD. (President: Keita Kato; hereinafter “SEKISUI CHEMICAL”) announces that it will commence Japan’s first demonstration test of film-type perovskite solar cells installed on the exterior walls of buildings together with NTT DATA Corporation (President: Yo Honma; hereinafter “NTT DATA”) in April 2023. The test will begin with installation on a small area of exterior walls at the SEKISUI CHEMICAL Research & Development Institute to identify potential issues. The cells will then be installed on exterior walls at the NTT Shinagawa TWINS DATA Tower for the demonstration test. The companies will tackle matters such as establishing a method for installing solar cell modules on the exterior walls of existing buildings and confirming power generation efficiency on vertical surfaces. Going forward, SEKISUI CHEMICAL will contribute to decarbonization by installing perovskite solar cells on existing buildings in urban centers, including NTT DATA’s data centers and offices.

1．Background of joint demonstration test

  As climate change is becoming a global issue and renewable energy expansion is required to create a sustainable society, installation sites for conventional silicon solar cells have been limited to flat, expansive land and roofs with high load-bearing capacity due to their weight and shape. Facilities in urban centers, where it is difficult to set up large-scale power generation facilities, utilize off-site PPAs* and consignment systems* to use renewable energy. This creates issues in terms of power purchase costs and energy loss due to transmission load.
* Off-site Power Purchase Agreement (PPA): A system where electricity consumers purchase renewable electricity generated at a location other than where the electricity is consumed from a power producer through a retail electricity provider.
* Consignment system: A system in which electricity generated in remote areas is consigned without the use of retail electricity providers.

  Film-type perovskite solar cells are a next-generation type of solar cell. They are lightweight and flexible, enabling installation in a variety of locations, including vertical surfaces, such as building walls, and roofs with limited load-bearing capacity. Expanding the range of locations in which these cells can be installed is expected to accelerate the spread of renewable energy, greatly contributing to achieving carbon neutrality.
  SEKISUI CHEMICAL has created a 30 cm-wide roll-to-roll manufacturing process utilizing its original “sealing, film formation, materials and process technology,” and have confirmed 10 years equivalent of outdoor durability, which is said to be critical to the development of film-type perovskite solar cells. Furthermore, this manufacturing process has been successfully used to produce film-type perovskite solar cells with a power generation efficiency of 15.0%.

Wall installation image (provided by NEDO)

2．Joint demonstration test details

1)Implementation location

SEKISUI CHEMICAL Research & Development Institute
2-1 Hyakuyama, Shimamoto-cho, Mishima-gun, Osaka
Five above-ground floors

NTT DATA NTT Shinagawa TWINS DATA Tower
1-9-1 Konan, Minato-ku, Tokyo
12 above-ground floors / two below-ground floors

2) Demonstration test details

・Establishment of a method for installing solar cell modules on the exterior walls of existing buildings
・Measurement of power generation efficiency on exterior wall surfaces (vertical surfaces) and comparison with predicted values
・Durability in areas with salt damage
・Practicality of using the renewable energy generated within the building

3) Demonstration test period

Around April 2023 to March 2024 (Phase 1: Issue identification at SEKISUI CHEMICAL Research & Development Institute)
Around April 2024 to March 2025 (Phase 2: Demonstration test at NTT DATA NTT Shinagawa TWINS DATA Tower)

3. Future development

  This demonstration test will establish methods of introducing renewable energy to the exterior walls of existing buildings. It will contribute to expanding the installations of these cells to the 16 domestic data centers and offices of NTT DATA, which is aiming to achieve carbon neutrality. In addition, through this collaboration with NTT DATA, a system integrator, SEKISUI CHEMICAL will contribute to the decarbonization of existing buildings in urban centers that are stocked as social capital.
  Starting from FY2023, SEKISUI CHEMICAL has proceeded with technological verification as well as installation and construction method establishment in a variety of applications, including installation at JR West Umekita (Osaka) Station and the Morigasaki Water Reclamation Center of the Tokyo Metropolitan Government Bureau of Sewerage, in addition to this project. It has also leveraged the Green Innovation Fund of the New Energy and Industrial Technology Development Organization (NEDO) to establish a manufacturing process for 1 m-wide rolls and promote development to further improve durability and power generation efficiency, aiming for commercialization in 2025.

Reference：
Film-type Perovskite Solar Cells Installed in Umekita (Osaka) Station (Announced on August 3, 2022)
https://www.sekisuichemical.com/news/2022/1378100_38754.html
Commencement of Joint Research on Film-type Perovskite Solar Cells with the Tokyo Metropolitan Government (Announced on December 2, 2022)
https://www.sekisuichemical.com/news/2022/1382652_38754.html

  SEKISUI CHEMICAL Group set its vision statement as “Innovation for the Earth” in Vision 2030, its long-term vision. We announced to support the basis of LIFE and will continue to create “peace of mind for the future” in order to realize a sustainable society. We are working on new technologies and businesses that contribute to decarbonization. Going forward, we will contribute to solving social issues to achieve sustainable growth for the Group and increase the sustainability of society, and work to continue to be trusted by all of our stakeholders.

About SEKISUI CHEMICAL Group

Headquartered in Japan, SEKISUI CHEMICAL CO., LTD. (TSE: 4204) and its subsidiaries make up the SEKISUI CHEMICAL Group. 27,000 employees in over 200 companies throughout 21 countries and regions aim to contribute to improving the lives of the people of the world and the earth’s environment. Thanks to a history of innovation, dedication and a pioneering spirit, SEKISUI CHEMICAL now holds leading positions in its three diverse business divisions as well as top global market share in interlayer film, foam products, conductive particles and more.
Since its foundation in 1947, the SEKISUI CHEMICAL Group has dedicated itself to social and environmental contribution and is now an internationally recognized leader in sustainability and environmental initiatives, having recently been selected as one of the Global 100 most sustainable companies. SEKISUI CHEMICAL Group will continue to maintain a strong corporate presence for 100 years and beyond.