QAZAQ GREEN.  Japan’s Panasonic Holdings has moved the start of full-scale mass production of its glass-type perovskite solar cells at its site in Nagahama, Shiga Prefecture, to April 2029, one year ahead of the original plan.

The company had initially planned to begin mass production in fiscal 2030. Production will be based at the mass production technology development site being built in Nagahama.

In September 2026, Panasonic began selling pre-production samples, manufactured at its development site in Moriguchi, Osaka Prefecture. Working with customers allows the company to build up know-how in installation and operation. Panasonic will also develop mass production technology for the Nagahama site and accelerate market creation by deploying pre-production samples.

According to the company, decarbonization and growing electricity demand have increased the need to expand the use of renewable energy in recent years. In urban areas, many buildings have limited rooftop space for solar panels. As a result, expectations are rising for building-integrated photovoltaics (BIPV), which turn underused surfaces such as windows and walls into new sites for power generation. In addition, expanding the use of perovskite solar cells is positioned in Japan as a key policy initiative supporting the government’s energy policy and economic security.

In September 2025, Panasonic was selected for a Green Innovation Fund project run by the New Energy and Industrial Technology Development Organization (NEDO). Under the project, it is developing mass production and installation technologies for glass-type perovskite solar cells. The company decided to bring forward the start of mass production in light of this work, rising market expectations and government support.

Panasonic said BIPV requires not only high power generation performance but also the qualities of a building material: design and transparency, flexible sizing, ease of installation and durability. By combining proprietary materials technology, inkjet printing and laser processing, the company offers a high degree of freedom in size, transparency and design. Using durability-enhancing materials and glass sealing technology, Panasonic aims to introduce “power-generating glass” into a wide range of buildings.

The project is part of Panasonic’s Technology Future Vision, which sets out the society the company wants to see by 2040 and the research directions to achieve it.