PXP

PXP Corporation is a green-tech startup, established in Sagamihara City, Kanagawa, Japan, in July 2020 by a team of engineers with extensive experience in solar panel research and mass-production technology. The company's name is a blend of "Phoenix" and "Photovoltaic," reflecting its mission to revitalize chalcopyrite technology. The CEO, Satoru Kuriya, leads the company, which was co-founded by Shigeaki Kameda. Mr. Kameda's background includes serving as Senior Vice President at Showa Shell Sekiyu K.K. until 2013 and as President and CEO of Solar Frontier K.K., where he grew the company into a major CIGS thin-film solar cell manufacturer. PXP's Chief Technology Officer, Hironori Sugimoto, began his career in the early 2000s developing solar panels for satellites at JAXA.

The core of PXP's business is the research and development of next-generation solar cells. The company is focused on creating a flexible, lightweight, and unbreakable solar panel by developing a tandem structure that combines perovskite and chalcopyrite materials. This approach differs from conventional solar panels that require heavy glass for protection and overcomes the durability and mass-production challenges associated with some perovskite solar cell manufacturing methods. By forming a chalcopyrite solar device on a metal foil and layering a perovskite device on top, PXP aims to absorb a wider spectrum of light, thereby increasing energy conversion efficiency to over 20%.

PXP is currently transitioning from the research and development phase to verifying mass production, with plans to establish a pilot production line. The company's business model involves not only the manufacturing and sale of these advanced solar cells but also licensing its production technology and providing technical support. Its target market includes applications where lightweight, flexibility, and high durability are critical, such as electric vehicles (EVs), aircraft, and portable power sources for disaster relief. PXP has already begun demonstration experiments for its kilowatt-class flexible solar panels on trailer houses and is collaborating with partners like JGC Corporation and Suntory Holdings on various proof-of-concept projects. The firm has successfully raised 1.5 billion JPY in a Series A funding round to advance its commercialization efforts.

Keywords: flexible solar panel, perovskite solar cell, chalcopyrite solar cell, CIGS thin-film, tandem solar cell, green-tech, renewable energy, solar technology, EV solar, energy production, clean-tech, solar R&D, advanced materials, solar cell manufacturing, sustainable energy, photovoltaic technology, lightweight solar, unbreakable solar panel, energy efficiency, Japan