High-efficiency cells for net-zero goals: an interview with Kim Keun-jin

How solar cells can contribute to carbon neutrality and renewable energy expansion is a commonly thought notion. One Korean eco-friendly energy materials company exploring solar cell development is Hanhwa Solution. A researcher in the R&D team, Kim Keun-jin shared the biggest benefits of solar cells, and emphasized the need for long-term R&D policy support alongside continued advancements in solar efficiency and diversification.

First, what kind of solar-related research is your department currently conducting?

I'm primarily focused on research and development, specifically next-generation solar cells. You could think of it as research into the next generation of solar cells, succeeding the silicon-based ones currently dominating the market.

What technologies or trends are you focusing on in this next-generation solar research?

When it comes to trends, fundamentally, performance must be better than existing silicon-based cells. And another thing is that since we need to develop solar cells or technologies that didn't exist before, we also have to consider fundamental technology development.

How do you think the technology you're researching contributes to achieving carbon neutrality and expanding renewable energy?

Starting with Korea, securing technology in areas currently led by China is one goal. And when thinking in terms of carbon neutrality, the basic idea is that this technology has higher efficiency compared to existing solar cells. That means it can produce more electricity for the same surface area. Given the same amount of carbon or similar considerations, it can produce more energy, so in that sense I view it positively.

How about on the global level?

Fundamentally, solar power is one of those technologies that can be cheap or expensive depending on the context. However, I believe it can be applied almost anywhere sunlight reaches. This means that as efficiency increases, we can extract more energy even with lighter weight or similar improvements. Consequently, it could provide access to energy in remote areas or places where energy is currently difficult to obtain. This aspect makes us think solar power might offer slightly better accessibility compared to fossil fuels or similar options. While fossil fuels like oil are essential in inaccessible areas, sunlight can reach most places. High-efficiency next-generation energy sources like solar power, especially, are expected to have greater potential for expansion in the global energy sector, particularly in solar and renewable energy.

What kind of research is being done on the recycling of solar panels?

When we talk about recycling, it involves existing components, and honestly, that's not my specific research area. But generally speaking, most components are recyclable. Even in the basic silicon industry, I know that waste components and such can be recycled. What I mean is, even if the performance is lower than the initial state, as long as the form remains intact and it's still in a condition where it can be recycled to some extent, that's what I understand. I don't know exactly about the part where it's completely recycled. However, I understand that attention is being paid to this area. Since the current solar cell cycle is nearing completion, this issue is indeed becoming increasingly important. I believe efforts will continue in this direction. 

Would you like to see more policy support emphasized?

Honestly, this is one of the challenging aspects because fundamentally, China dominates silicon-based industries and solar-related sectors. Consequently, reinvesting in silicon and implementing policies for it is frankly not an easy task. In a way, if you look at it the other way around, providing too much policy support could also have adverse effects in a market economy. In that sense, rather than focusing solely on next-generation technologies or reprocessing technologies, supporting research and development in areas like next-generation renewable energy technologies might be more beneficial for future generations. This is because it's not about developing technologies for the immediate future, like 1-2 years or even a few months ahead, but it's rather about preparing for the next generation, which could take 5 to 6 years or even 10 years down the line, and it should be seen as preparatory work for the next generation. Therefore, I believe such areas require more medium-to-long-term support for research and development.

How do you see the future development direction of the solar industry?

Silicon solar cells seem unable to avoid efficiency competition. Efficiency competition will likely push towards higher efficiency forms. However, we never know how far the solar market will develop. In a way, ultra-high-efficiency devices will likely be used in space or similar applications. Beyond that, when it becomes more commercialized or something like that, it could be utilized in mobile applications, as mentioned earlier, in remote areas or places where energy is essential. While efficiency is important, I also think there's a need for greater diversification in the market and related areas. However, this will likely require a certain level of basic infrastructure development and a shift in public perception. Currently, since fossil fuels like oil aren't priced as high as some might have anticipated, and since nuclear and other alternatives aren't yet at a point where their technological costs are extremely low, I believe the primary goal should be achieving high efficiency through technology.