Central Japan Railway, which operates in Japan’s Chubu region, has announced plans to test flexible perovskite solar panels on noise barriers.
The company is working with Sekisui Chemical, a Japanese plastics manufacturer that recently commissioned a 100 MW perovskite solar cell production line.
The first pilot projects will be deployed along the Tokaido Shinkansen line, an area with high solar radiation.
“By using flexible solar cells in places where it was previously difficult to install conventional solar panels, it will be possible to generate electricity from renewable energy over a larger area,” the railway company said in a statement. Solar panels will be supplied to nearby train stations.
The company said it uses thin, lightweight, flexible film-type perovskite solar cells, which are said to be more resistant to wind pressure and vibrations from passing trains. This design prevents the soundproof wall from becoming a heavy, load-bearing structure.
“Like noise barriers have a long service life, we have developed a prototype with perovskite solar cells that can be easily attached and detached, assuming that during maintenance only the solar cells will be replaced,” the company added, noting that the first prototype will be built at the Komaki Research Facility, where it will conduct initial testing. “We will apply vibration and wind pressure to simulate the passage of a train to devise a structure that can withstand the railway environment and verify the impact on power generation performance.”
In late December 2024, Sekisui Chemical said it would invest JPY 90 billion ($570.64 million) in a perovskite solar production line with an initial capacity of 100 MW, which should be operational in 2027. The company also plans to commercialize its flexible perovskite solar panel technology. , produced in existing facilities, in 2025.
The investment includes the acquisition of a JPY 25 billion factory from Japanese electronics manufacturer Sharp in Sakai, Osaka Prefecture. The acquisition includes buildings, power supply, cooling and facilities.
At the end of November, The Japanese Ministry of Economy, Trade and Industry (METI) said it plans to deploy about 20 GW of new PV systems based on perovskite solar cell technology by 2040.
The ministry said it also plans to support other Japanese manufacturers in the production of perovskite solar panel technologies.
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