Inspecting Garden Lamps Equipped with ‘Air Solar’ Cells

Governor Koike toured the environs of the Tokyo Metropolitan Gymnasium on August 20 to inspect garden lamps equipped with next-generation solar cells developed by Japanese company Ricoh and nicknamed “Air Solar.”

The Tokyo Metropolitan Government and Ricoh have recently installed 35 “Air Solar” garden lamps outside the gymnasium for a proof-of-concept test until this December on their electricity output and durability in an outdoor environment.

“Air” as in Air Solar, which refers to perovskite solar cells, is an acronym for the phrase “Anywhere Innovative Renewable.” 

Ricoh Chairperson Yamashita Yoshinori accompanied Governor Koike during the inspection.

After the inspection, the Tokyo governor said, “To proceed with climate-change and decarbonization efforts, it is essential for us to make effective use of Japan’s advanced technological capabilities.”

“Air Solar is made from iodine, and Japan has the second largest share of global production of iodine.- It is light, thin and bendable,” she added. “It is a great challenge to secure the energy supply with renewable sources. And we want to take one step at a time.”