NEDO Development of High Performance and Reliable PV Modules to Reduce Levelized Cost of Energy “R&D of Ultra-high Efficiency and Low-cost III-V Compound Semiconductor Solar Cell Modules (Ultra-high Efficiency Cells and Cost Reduction Technology)

  • SDG7 Ensure access to affordable, reliable, sustainable and modern energy for all
  • SDG9 Build resilient infrastructure, promote inclusive and sustainable industrialization and foster innovation
  • SDG13 Take urgent action to combat climate change and its impacts
  • SDG17 Strengthen the means of implementation and revitalize the global partnership for sustainable development
Yoshitaka Okada
Research Center for Advanced Science and Technology
Professor
In this project, we are aiming at the spread in the future of ultra-high efficiency solar cells such as III-V compound solar cells, which are currently not widely adopted but used for space applications. We will try to achieve seven yen per kWh by 2030 through developing elemental technologies for cutting manufacturing costs and power generation costs as well as improving solar cell efficiency. Specifically, we will plan to develop thin-film III-V compound solar cells with a conversion efficiency of 30% and higher. To that end, we will focus on (1) super high efficiency, (2) manufacturing equipment and process, (3) elemental technologies of the epitaxial lift-off and wafer reuse techniques for cutting manufacturing costs, and (4) elemental technologies for low-cost modules and outdoor evaluation and demonstration.
The development of 30% more efficient solar cell modules with III-V compound semiconductor
The development of innovative low-cost technologies to achieve ¥7/kWh by 2030 for developing various products

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Research collaborators

- National Institute of Advanced Industrial Science and Technology
- Sharp Corporation
- Panasonic Corporation
- Taiyo Nippon Sanso Corporation
- TAKANO Corporation
- Toyota Technological Institute
- The University of Electro-Communications
- Kobe University
- Nagoya University
- Meijo University
- University of Miyazaki
- Tokyo University of Agriculture and Technology
- Osaka City University
- Saitama University

Related publications

- T. Sogabe, Y. Shoji, M. Ohba, K. Yoshida, R. Tamaki, H-F. Hong, C-H. Wu, C-T. Kuo, S. Tomić and Y. Okada, “Intermediate-band dynamics of quantum dots solar cell in concentrator photovoltaic modules”, Scientific Reports (Nature Publishing), 4, 4792 (2014).
- Yoshitaka Okada, Tomah Sogabe and Yasushi Shoji, “Intermediate Band Solar Cells”, in Advanced Concepts in Photovoltaics, edited by A. J Nozik, G. Conibeer and M. C. Beard (2014, Royal Society of Chemistry, UK).
- Y. Okada, N. J. Ekins-Daukes, T. Kita, R. Tamaki, M. Yoshida, A. Pusch, O. Hess, C. C. Phillips, D. J. Farrell, K. Yoshida, N. Ahsan, Y. Shoji, T. Sogabe and J-F. Guillemoles, “Intermediate band solar cells: Recent progress and future directions”, Applied Physics Reviews, 2, 021302 (2015).
- D. J. Farrell, H. Sodabanlu, Y. Wang, M. Sugiyama and Y. Okada, “A hot-electron thermophotonic solar cell demonstrated by thermal up-conversion of sub-bandgap photons”, Nature Communications, 6, 8685 (2015).
- Okada Yoshitaka,Ryoshi-Dotto Taiyo Denchi -Genjo to Tenbo-, Nihon Enerugi Gakkaishi,96,142 (2017).(Japanese)
- Nakano Yoshiaki, Sugiyama Masakazu, Shuko-gata Cho-Kokoritsu Taiyo Denchi -Genjo to Tenbo-, Nihon Enerugi Gakkaishi,96,137 (2017).(Japanese)

Related patents

- patent application PCT/JP2015/086247

Contact

  • Yoshitaka Okada
  • Email: okada[at]mbe.rcast.u-tokyo.ac.jp
    ※[at]=@
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