2012 Flexible Solar Cell Development Status and Participating Manufacturers Reference

Trends in thin-film silicon, CIGS, CcTe, organic thin films, and dye-sensitized flexible technology. Development trends by entering manufacturers and production trends reference included.

The development of flexible electronic devices is becoming more active. Progress is being made in the flexibleization of displays, organic EL lighting, RF-ID, sensors, and more. Among these, mass production of flexible solar cells has already begun. Mass production is advancing with thin-film Si types, and their introduction to the market is also progressing. In the United States, following thin-film Si, mass production of CIGS-type flexible solar cells is also underway and being introduced to the market. Flexible solar cells feature free shapes, thin and lightweight designs, and robustness, making them increasingly adopted for BIPV and mobile applications. Particularly in the BIPV field, their lightweight and thin characteristics have drawn attention for ease of installation. They are notable for their high adaptability to various situations, such as walls and curved surfaces, and their ease of installation is said to enable cost reduction. Furthermore, the development of organic thin-film solar cells is also becoming more active. The introduction of printed technology is being promoted, and although still in development, there is growing expectation for these next-generation solar cells to be produced at low costs.

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