Science

Japan Launches Solar Super-Panel Equal to 20 Reactors

Japan has unveiled a next-generation solar panel technology using perovskite solar cells that could significantly improve output, flexibility and deployment. Various reports suggest the government and industry expect installations of the panels to reach an electrical generation capability of 20 GW, or roughly the equivalent of "20 nuclear reactors" in name-plate capacity terms, by around fiscal 2040. These ultra-thin, light, and flexible PSC modules can be installed in places where traditional silicon-based panels cannot-for example on building façades, vehicle roofs, street-furniture, and other urban infrastructure. Because land is scarce in Japan, that flexibility is key. The Japanese government has placed PSCs at the heart of its revised energy-strategy, citing the goal of achieving net-zero greenhouse-gas emissions by 2050 and boosting the share of renewables in the energy mix. Japan's advantage…