Recently, Nagoya University in Japan has developed a technology that can extend the life of "perovskite" photovoltaic cells, which are bendable and can be manufactured at a low cost, by 2 to 4 times. It can be extended to about 20 years, reaching a level comparable to mainstream photovoltaic cells made of silicon. The university will study manufacturing methods with companies and strive to achieve practical application in the second half of the 2020s. This will promote the popularization of a new generation of photovoltaic cells that will help reduce greenhouse gases.
Perovskite photovoltaic cells are manufactured by applying a coating-like material on a film and glass substrate. It is said that the manufacturing cost can be reduced to half that of silicon photovoltaic cells. If a very thin film is used on the substrate, the weight is expected to be reduced to one-tenth.