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VIEW FROM NATURE PHOTONICS TECHNOLOGY CONFERENCE 2010
Photovoltaic outlook
Solar cells are poised to play an important role in the development of a clean-energy economy, but their future success depends both on supportive government policies and research eorts to improve conversion efficiencies and bring down costs.
Rachel Won
Many readers may not be aware that Nature Photonics, aside from publishing high-quality research
in the eld of optics, also hosts its own conferences. Following the popularity of the rst Nature Photonics Technology Conference in 2007 on the future of optical communications, this year Nature Photonics organized another successful event onthe topic of photovoltaics a timely subject, given the global call for a clean-energy economy.
The conference, held on 1921 October 2010 in Tokyo, Japan, was designed to be highly accessible for all, unlike many eventsin photovoltaics that are either trade shows promoting business activities or highly technical conferences intended solely for experts. Around 1,700 people gathered to hear 27 experts leading scientists from both academia and industry worldwide present plenary-style talks on the current status and future evolution of the key technologies in the eld of photovoltaics. The aim was to provide scientists, industry executives, politicians and other interested parties with a valuable insight into the evolution of solar cells, includingthe upcoming challenges, opportunities and trends in the eld.
The conference kicked o with opening remarks by Masaya Yasui, director-general of the Energy Conservation and Renewable Energy Department of the Ministry of Economy, Trade and Industry of Japan, who spoke about the countrys policies for the photovoltaic sector.
The goal of the National Energy Strategy, published in June 2010, is to improve the independent energy supply in Japan from 38% to about 70%, and the proportion of zero-emission electricity from 34% to about 70% by 2030, explained Yasui. The goal in the photovoltaic sector is to realize solar cells with a module conversion efficiency of more than 40% and a generation cost of 7 yen per kWh or less by 2050.
This goal is an integral...