The Japanese imaging and electronics company said tests of its perovskite solar cell technology will be conducted in a demonstrator system aboard an unmanned cargo spacecraft operated by the Japan Aerospace Exploration Agency.
Japanese imaging and electronics company Ricoh has announced that its perovskite solar cell technology will be evaluated on an unmanned cargo transfer conducted by Japan Aerospace Exploration Agency (JAXA).
“During the on-orbit demonstration, Ricoh’s perovskite solar cells will be exposed to space for approximately two months,” the company said in a statement.
Tests of power generation, electrical performance and durability will be completed within the Space Solar Cell Demonstration System (SDX) aboard the new unmanned HTV-X1, built to carry cargo and space station supplies.
“The perovskite solar cells used in this JAXA space demonstration are not manufactured using inkjet technology; however, Ricoh is also developing inkjet printed perovskite solar cells,” a Ricoh spokesperson said. pv magazinewithout disclosing further details.
“Building on the results of this space demonstration, Ricoh will continue to improve the performance and high durability of perovskite solar cells, accelerating development toward early commercialization,” the company said.
This isn’t the first on-orbit performance test of Ricoh’s perovskite solar cell technology. Last year, the small satellite Denden-01 was launched with its perovskite PV devices on board for a six-month evaluation.
Ricoh says it has been developing perovskite solar cells for space atmospheric conditions since 2017 in joint research with the JAXA Space Exploration Innovation Hub Center. The company sees perovskite solar cell technology offering several advantages over conventional space solar cells, such as the potential for high power even in low illumination, strong resistance to cosmic rays, and the potential for lightweight and flexible designs.
It aims to integrate its core inkjet printing technologies, including organic photoconductors, inkjet heads, ink delivery systems and roll-to-roll processing, to improve the efficiency and sustainability of perovskite solar cell energy.
In a separate announcement in September, Ricoh said it will collaborate on a five-year project to develop and demonstrate perovskite solar cell technology for building-integrated solar PV (BIPV) and building-related PV (BAPV) applications with Daiwa House Industry, Japan’s largest homebuilder, and NTT Anode Energy, an energy technology subsidiary of Japanese telecommunications company NTT, in a project supported by the NEDO Green Innovation Fund.
Ricoh said it will lead the development of inkjet printing technologies, aiming for high productivity and low-cost production processes. NTT Anode Energy will lead the development of the design of electrical systems addressing perovskite-related challenges, as part of the ongoing research and development of perovskite solar energy, and Daiwa will lead the development of construction and installation technologies for perovskite solar cells on the roofs of large logistics facilities and the exterior walls of data centers.
The statement also noted that the project involves collaboration with building material manufacturers to ensure durability, waterproofing and compatibility.
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