> Scientists in Japan have been discussing the possibility of using a material called perovskite for solar panels
> The perovskite tandem cell has a theoretical efficiency limit of 43 per cent, while the silicon-based cell has a theoretical efficiency limit of 29 percent. It is speculated that these solar panels will be able to produce 20 gigawatts of electricity by 2040
> Under Section 0 of Japan’s revised energy plan, the Ministry of Industry prioritises the use of perovskite solar cells over the less efficient silicon-based solar cells of yore.
> Japanese company, Sekisui Chemical Co., with the help of the Japanese government, is now working towards developing advanced perovskite solar cells for circulation in the global market in the 2030s.
Perovskite cells still don't make much sense for the majority of applications (and I suspect they never will): they're expensive, generally use toxic materials, and degrade much more quickly than silicon panels. Silicon panels are cheap, non-toxic, and long-lasting and plenty efficient enough for 90% of use cases.
Only 20? Why not 50? 100? These are rookie numbers. As long as you're just making shit up, I want a solar panel more powerful than 9000 nuclear reactors.
There’s no unveiling right? This is just an announcement that they’ll build perovskite solar cells and sell them in 2030s.
> Supported by the government, Sekisui Chemical Co. is now developing advanced PSC modules for their future application to a broad market in the 2030s.
Additionally, if they currently target the 2030s, there absolutely no guarantee that they will ever sell them. The technology is in the research phase and as such may well turn out to be not a viable product.
An awful headline, but interesting to hear about a perovskite push. I’m not deep into the solar world, but they always seemed like something with potential from the limited reading I’ve done.
Besides the words "Japan" and "solar", the headline has nothing at all to do with the content of the article or technical reality, and sounds more like the beginning of an anime story arc. Like someone prompted an AI with "every headline should have a power level over 9000".
It would suck to build a massive solar panel array only for it to break after an earthquake. Hopefully they are seismic proofed like many buildings there.
Solar PV arrays are not really contiguous structures like buildings. A major earthquake could certainly cause some damage, but the fundamental design of the arrays makes them much less sensitive to seismic activity than any building.
Readit News
https://www.ecoticias.com/en/japan-super-solar-panel/12474/
> Scientists in Japan have been discussing the possibility of using a material called perovskite for solar panels
> The perovskite tandem cell has a theoretical efficiency limit of 43 per cent, while the silicon-based cell has a theoretical efficiency limit of 29 percent. It is speculated that these solar panels will be able to produce 20 gigawatts of electricity by 2040
> Under Section 0 of Japan’s revised energy plan, the Ministry of Industry prioritises the use of perovskite solar cells over the less efficient silicon-based solar cells of yore.
> Japanese company, Sekisui Chemical Co., with the help of the Japanese government, is now working towards developing advanced perovskite solar cells for circulation in the global market in the 2030s.
Perovskites: non-silicon based semiconductors, in theory much cheaper for solar panels, in practice have lifetime issues.
"Japan unveils world’s first solar super-panel: More powerful than 20 nuclear reactors"
How can a "super-panel" be more powerful than twenty nuclear reactors? By letting salespeople write stuff, it seems.
> Supported by the government, Sekisui Chemical Co. is now developing advanced PSC modules for their future application to a broad market in the 2030s.
Maybe not the best analogy for the most earthquake-prone country in the world?