ITRI develops flexible and lightweight PV module｜Taiwan News

Taiwan has pledged net-zero emissions by 2050, and solar photovoltaic has been identified as a key technology to achieve that. Recently, the Industrial Technology Research Institute, or ITRI, has developed a special solar PV module that’s lightweight and weather-resistant. It’s also flexible and can be applied directly onto many kinds of surfaces. The invention was showcased at the 2024 Shalun International Green Energy Summit and Expo on Monday to experts from home and abroad, demonstrating Taiwan’s commitment towards carbon neutrality.

The curved back sheet holds a special composite material that is highly weather-resistant. Unlike conventional solar PV modules, which have a base material of glass, this flexible lightweight PV module developed by ITRI can be applied directly onto various building surfaces, and is also more agile and efficient.

Lin Fu-ming
ITRI division head
What makes this special is that it’s very lightweight, and it can be molded around the exterior structure of buildings, and so in the future it can be installed where it didn’t used to be possible.

The solar panel is lightweight and pliable, allowing it to be molded to the site of installation. Additionally it has a lower reflectance, which increases its solar-cell efficiency, meaning more sunlight can be converted into electricity. These advanced features made the ITRI invention a hit at the event.

Lin Fu-ming
ITRI division head
Conventional PV modules need a strong supportive frame, but not this one. It can be applied onto existing walls, or even onto the canopy which may be perpendicular or curved. It works on any stylized structure works, it can be applied anywhere you want.

Since March 2022, Taiwan has started taking action towards net-zero emissions. However, the limited area of the country’s territory creates a great obstacle. Only by increasing the solar-cell efficiency of PV modules, can the same amount of electricity be generated on a smaller area of land.

James Wang
ITRI vice president and general director
With Taiwan’s limited area, the solar PV module not only generates more solar photovoltaic electricity, it can also be applied to other fields, because installing solar PV may create additional added value.

ITRI’s PV module was exhibited at the 2024 Shalun International Green Energy Summit and Expo. Solar PV experts from home and abroad gave presentations at the event, including a researcher from Japan and a developer from the Netherlands: both leading countries in solar PV technology. Together, the experts across industry and academia exchanged knowledge and created new pathways for green energy in Taiwan.

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