On Tuesday, December 17, Professor Yutaka Ie delivered a lecture at Okayama Prefectural Maniwa High School.
This lecture served as a kickoff event preceding the collaboration project between the Agricultural Food Production Department of Maniwa High School and Osaka University, announced during a press conference titled "Launching a Demonstration Project to Install Organic Solar Cells in Okayama Prefectural High Schools" on Wednesday, November 20, at the Osaka University Nakanoshima Center.
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The lecture, themed "Development of Next-Generation Organic Solar Cells Suitable for Agricultural Houses," provided an overview of solar energy and basic knowledge of solar cells. It addressed pressing societal issues in agriculture, such as energy concerns, food self-sufficiency rates, and the challenges of solar sharing with silicon solar cells. The "green wavelength-selective organic solar cells (hereafter referred to as OSC)" to be installed at Maniwa High School were highlighted for their innovative features, such as being lightweight and thin, allowing direct installation on agricultural houses without negatively impacting farmland area or crop yield. The lecture emphasized how these environmentally and agriculturally friendly solar cells could help build sustainable local production and consumption systems.
The event took place in the school gymnasium, with approximately 200 students from the Agricultural Food Production and Business Management departments in attendance, alongside local agricultural professionals from Maniwa City.
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Following the lecture, a viewing session of the OSC installed on the agricultural houses of the Agricultural Food Production Department was held for the agricultural professionals. Many questions were raised regarding installation costs and energy efficiency, showcasing the high expectations for the product’s commercialization among actual agricultural practitioners.
On the following day, Wednesday, December 18, Professor Ie visited the Maniwa City Hall to meet with Mayor Noboru Ota.
Maniwa City is the first local government to partner with the OSC project, which has been undergoing demonstration tests in collaboration with private companies. The city is recognized as a pioneer in environmental sustainability, promoting forest conservation and the development of timber and biomass industries aimed at balancing environmental preservation and economic development.
During the meeting, Professor Ie shared updates on the research and development of OSC and its future outlook. Mayor Ota expressed keen interest in the research, not only from the perspective of regional revitalization but also from global environmental conservation. He offered continued support for the project through Maniwa High School, making the meeting a warm and productive exchange.
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We would like to extend our heartfelt gratitude to the Agricultural Promotion Division of the Industry and Tourism Department of Maniwa City Hall and everyone at Maniwa High School for their efforts in organizing this project and lecture.
(SANKEN PR office)