This week’s roundup covers nine notable developments across three frontier sectors. Green hydrogen supply chains are maturing from demonstration to commercial scale on both sides of the Pacific; perovskite solar cells are shattering efficiency benchmarks once considered theoretical ceilings; and next-generation storage and fusion technologies are moving quietly from laboratory curiosity to grid-relevant infrastructure. Below, three stories in each category — with a particular lens on Japan’s industrial ecosystem.
Hydrogen Technologies
World’s First Commercial 30%-Hydrogen-Blend Engine Now on Sale
Kawasaki Heavy Industries opened its order book for the KG-series co-firing engine — a commercially warranted unit capable of burning up to 30% hydrogen by volume blended with natural gas — following an eleven-month verification trial at its Kobe works that ran from October 2024 through September 2025.[FN1] The eight-megawatt-class distributed-power unit requires minimal modification to existing pipeline infrastructure, giving grid operators a credible bridging option between today’s gas fleets and a future hydrogen economy. A companion low-speed, two-stroke model targeting large cargo-ship propulsion entered sea trials in spring 2026, and all variants share a dual-fuel architecture that allows operators to switch back to conventional diesel wherever hydrogen bunkering is unavailable.[FN1]
Japan Breaks Ground on World’s Largest Liquefied Hydrogen Carrier
Backed by NEDO’s ¥2-trillion Green Innovation Fund, a Japanese consortium has launched the design and construction phase of a commercial-scale liquefied hydrogen (LH₂) tanker — the next step after the world’s first LH₂ demonstration voyage completed in 2022.[FN2] The new vessel will incorporate high-performance vacuum-jacketed insulation and double-wall piping to minimize boil-off gas losses from cryogenic storage — a key cost driver for international hydrogen supply chains.[FN2] The project budget stands at approximately $2 billion and is designed to validate the entire supply chain from production to delivery, positioning Japan’s shipping industry for the hydrogen import volumes targeted in the government’s revised Basic Hydrogen Strategy.
Super COURSE50 Consortium Targets 50% CO₂ Reduction in Blast-Furnace Steelmaking
Nippon Steel, JFE Steel, and Kobe Steel — operating together as the Hydrogen Steelmaking Consortium under the NEDO Green Innovation Fund — have advanced the Super COURSE50 project, which aims to cut carbon dioxide emissions from conventional blast-furnace production by 50% by injecting externally heated hydrogen alongside coke.[FN3] Full-scale verification experiments at production-level furnaces are scheduled to begin in 2026, a milestone that would move the technology from bench-scale to industrial proof-of-concept.[FN3] Japan accounts for roughly 24% of global hydrogen-related patents, and the steel sector is considered a priority application where direct electrification remains technically difficult — giving hydrogen reduction an unambiguous commercial case.
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Perovskite Solar Cells
LONGi Pushes Tandem Cell Efficiency to 35% — Shockley-Queisser Limit Now in the Rearview Mirror
LONGi Green Energy’s crystalline silicon–perovskite two-terminal tandem cell reached a certified efficiency of 34.85% at NREL in April 2025, surpassing the Shockley-Queisser single-junction theoretical ceiling of 33.7% — a threshold photovoltaic researchers had been approaching for more than a decade.[FN4] Updated NREL tracking subsequently confirmed a further milestone of approximately 35.0% for a small-area device, while the company’s 260.9 cm² large-area cell achieved a certified 33.0% at SNEC 2025 — a commercially relevant size that narrows the gap between laboratory records and manufacturable modules.[FN4] The cell design relies on a bilayer interface passivation strategy using a thin lithium fluoride (LiF) layer combined with short-chain ethylenediammonium diiodide (EDAI) molecules to balance electron transport and defect passivation.
EPFL & CSEM Achieve 30% Efficiency in Triple-Junction Perovskite-Silicon Cell
Researchers from Switzerland’s EPFL and CSEM reported a world record of 30.02% power conversion efficiency for a triple-junction device combining two thin-film perovskite sub-cells with one silicon bottom cell — certified by China’s Shanghai Institute of Microsystem and Information Technology.[FN5] The team addressed the two canonical challenges of triple-junction designs: low voltage in the top perovskite layer, and insufficient current in the middle cell. The solution involved introducing a crystal-growth-guiding molecule that lifts the top-cell voltage to 1.4 V, a three-step fabrication process that improves near-infrared absorption in the middle cell, and silicon-oxide nanoparticles that reflect additional light back into the middle layer.[FN5]
China Sets Single-Junction Inverted Perovskite Record at 27.17%
Researchers from Nankai University and the Beijing Institute of Technology claimed a new world record of 27.17% for a perovskite cell with an inverted (p-i-n) architecture, published in Nature on May 11, 2026.[FN6] The inverted design — in which light enters through the hole-transport layer — is favored for tandem integration and long-term stability, and the new result narrows the gap between it and conventional n-i-p architectures, which have historically held efficiency advantages.[FN6] Earlier in April, a separate Chinese team had reported a single-junction cell reaching 27.98% under standard conditions, briefly surpassing all single-junction silicon cells in a laboratory setting — the first time any perovskite device had done so.
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Other Breakthrough Technologies
Solid-State Batteries Enter Commercial Pilot Production — Japan in the Race
Solid-state batteries targeting 400–500 Wh/kg energy density — roughly double today’s best lithium-ion cells — are transitioning from R&D to limited commercial production in 2026, with Chinese manufacturers Nio and IM Motors already shipping hybrid semi-solid cells in premium vehicles and Toyota aiming for small-scale production of true solid-state units by 2027–2028.[FN7] Japan’s position is notable: the IEA’s State of Energy Innovation 2026 report identified a Japanese company among the global leaders in its “Race to First” for a solid-state battery electric vehicle, citing Japan’s highest revealed technological advantage (RTA) in batteries among any major economy.[FN7] The core advantage of solid electrolytes — suppression of lithium-metal dendrite growth — enables both superior energy density and faster charging without the thermal-runaway risk that defines current liquid-electrolyte systems.
Fusion Energy: Virginia Site Zoned for World’s First Grid-Scale Commercial Plant
A site in Virginia has been formally zoned for what would be the world’s first grid-scale commercial fusion power plant, with permitting and construction identified as the next steps toward grid delivery by the early 2030s.[FN8] Meanwhile, the IEA’s 2026 innovation report flagged fusion as an area where physics risk is “shrinking fast” — with multiple private ventures in the US, Europe, and Japan advancing toward sustained net-energy output — while cautioning that engineering, regulatory, and cost challenges still separate current demonstrations from multi-gigawatt deployment.[FN8] Japan has adopted regulatory frameworks to provide developer certainty, and the IEA’s dedicated fusion chapter notes that grid-forming fusion capacity before 2030 remains unlikely, but a handful of pilot plants totaling under 5 GW thermal capacity globally could emerge by that date.
Flexible Perovskite-Silicon Tandem Opens Door to Vehicle-Integrated and Curved-Surface PV
A research team reported in Nature a certified 33.6%-efficient flexible perovskite/crystalline-silicon tandem solar cell — a result that rivals rigid cells — fabricated on a silicon wafer just 60 μm thick with a device weight of 4.38 g.[FN9] The cell retained 91% of its initial power conversion efficiency after 5,000 bending cycles at a radius of 17.6 mm, and 90% after 1,000 hours of damp-heat testing under IEC conditions — figures that begin to satisfy the durability bar required for automotive and building-integrated photovoltaics (BIPV).[FN9] The enabling technology is a reactive-plasma-deposited cerium- and hydrogen-co-doped indium oxide (ICO:H) recombination layer, which promotes uniform coverage of self-assembled monolayers at the perovskite/silicon interface. If replicated at module scale, this breakthrough could unlock curved rooftops, vehicle hoods, and portable electronics as new photovoltaic surfaces.
Japanese translations
今週のフロンティア技術アップデート
今週は、フロンティア領域の3分野で計9件の重要な動きをまとめた。 グリーン水素のサプライチェーンは日米双方で実証段階から商用化へ移行しつつあり、ペロブスカイト太陽電池は長年“理論限界”とされてきた効率値を次々と突破している。さらに、次世代蓄電池や核融合などの基盤技術は、静かに研究室段階から電力インフラとしての実装フェーズへと近づいている。 以下では、日本の産業エコシステムに特に焦点を当てつつ、各分野3件ずつ紹介する。
水素関連技術
世界初：水素30％混焼の商用エンジンが販売開始
川崎重工業は、天然ガスに最大30％の水素を混焼できるKGシリーズのコージェネ用エンジンについて、2024年10月〜2025年9月の11カ月にわたる神戸工場での実証を経て、商用販売を開始した。[FN1] 出力8MW級の分散電源向けユニットで、既存のガス配管インフラにほぼ手を加えず導入できる点が特徴だ。これは、現行のガス火力と将来の水素経済をつなぐ“橋渡し技術”として、電力会社に現実的な選択肢を提供する。 また、貨物船向けの低速2ストローク版も2026年春に海上試験へ移行しており、水素バンカリングが利用できない港ではディーゼルに切り替えられるデュアルフューエル設計を採用している。[FN1]
世界最大の液化水素運搬船、日本で建造開始
NEDOの2兆円規模のグリーンイノベーション基金を背景に、日本のコンソーシアムが商用規模の液化水素（LH₂）運搬船の設計・建造フェーズに入った。[FN2] 2022年の世界初のLH₂実証航海を踏まえた次段階であり、真空二重殻構造や二重配管による断熱性能向上で、ボイルオフガス損失を最小化する設計が採用される。[FN2] 総事業費は約20億ドル。生産から輸送・受入までのサプライチェーン全体を検証し、日本の海運産業を政府の水素基本戦略が掲げる大規模輸入時代に備えさせる狙いがある。
Super COURSE50：高炉製鉄のCO₂排出を50％削減へ
日本製鉄、JFEスチール、神戸製鋼がNEDOの支援のもと進める「水素製鉄コンソーシアム」は、外部加熱した水素をコークスと併用して高炉に吹き込むことで、CO₂排出量を50％削減する「Super COURSE50」プロジェクトを推進している。[FN3] 2026年には実生産レベルの高炉での大規模検証が予定されており、技術はベンチスケールから産業実装段階へと移行する見込みだ。[FN3] 日本は水素関連特許の約24％を占めており、電化が困難な製鉄分野は水素還元の商業性が最も明確な領域とされる。
ペロブスカイト太陽電池
LONGi、タンデムセル効率35％到達 — Shockley-Queisser限界を突破
LONGiは2025年4月、シリコン／ペロブスカイトの2端子タンデムセルでNREL認証34.85％を達成し、単接合セルの理論限界（33.7％）を超えた。[FN4] その後の更新で小面積セルは約35％に到達し、260.9 cm²の大面積セルでも33.0％を記録するなど、研究室レベルと量産レベルの差が急速に縮まりつつある。[FN4] 高効率の鍵は、LiF薄膜と短鎖EDAI分子を組み合わせた界面パッシベーションで、電子輸送と欠陥抑制を両立させている。
EPFL/CSEM、三接合セルで30％突破
スイスのEPFLとCSEMは、ペロブスカイト2層＋シリコン1層の三接合セルで30.02％の世界記録を達成し、SIMITによる認証を受けた。[FN5] 課題だった「トップセルの低電圧」と「中間セルの電流不足」を、結晶成長を誘導する分子の導入、3段階の成膜プロセス、SiO₂ナノ粒子による光反射強化で克服した。[FN5]
中国、単接合ペロブスカイトで27.17％の世界記録
南開大学と北京理工大学の研究チームは、p-i-n型（反転構造）の単接合セルで27.17％を達成し、2026年5月にNature誌で発表した。[FN6] 反転構造はタンデム適性と長期安定性に優れ、従来優位だったn-i-p構造との差が急速に縮まっている。[FN6] 同年4月には別チームが27.98％を報告し、単接合シリコンセルを一時的に上回る成果となった。
その他のブレークスルー技術
全固体電池、2026年に商用パイロットへ — 日本企業が“Race to First”に名乗り
400〜500 Wh/kg級の全固体電池が2026年にR&D段階から商用パイロット生産へ移行。中国勢（Nio、IM Motors）はすでにハイブリッド型を搭載し、トヨタは2027〜2028年の小規模量産を目指す。[FN7] IEAの「State of Energy Innovation 2026」では、日本企業が“最初に全固体EVを出す国”の有力候補として挙げられ、日本の電池分野の技術優位性（RTA）が世界最高と評価された。[FN7] 固体電解質はリチウム金属のデンドライト成長を抑制し、高エネルギー密度と高速充電を両立させる。
核融合：世界初の商用規模プラント、米バージニアで区画決定
米バージニア州で、世界初となる商用規模の核融合発電所建設に向けた区画指定が完了し、2030年代初頭の送電を目指して許認可と建設が次段階に入る。[FN8] IEAは2026年報告で「物理学的リスクは急速に縮小」と評価しつつ、工学・規制・コスト面の課題が依然大きいと指摘。[FN8] 日本は開発者の予見性を高める規制枠組みを整備しており、2030年までに数GW規模のパイロットが世界で数件立ち上がる可能性がある。
柔軟なペロブスカイト／シリコンタンデム — 車載・曲面PVの扉を開く
Nature誌に掲載された研究では、厚さ60 μmのシリコン基板上に作製した柔軟なタンデムセルが33.6％の認証効率を達成した。[FN9]
重量はわずか4.38 gで、17.6 mm曲率で5,000回の曲げ試験後も91％の性能を維持。IEC準拠の高温高湿試験でも1,000時間後に90％を維持し、車載PVやBIPVに必要な耐久性基準に近づいている。[FN9]
鍵となるのは、反応性プラズマで成膜したCe/H共ドープICO:H再結合層で、界面の自己組織化単分子膜を均一に形成する。モジュール化に成功すれば、曲面屋根、車両フード、携帯デバイスなど新たなPV用途が開ける。
References & Sources
[FN1] Amiri, A. “Japan Has Created the World’s First Engine That Generates Electricity on 30% Hydrogen.” Daily Galaxy / Ecoticias, February 15, 2026 — Kawasaki Heavy Industries KG‑series co‑firing engine product page and NEDO Green Innovation Fund project documentation.
[FN2] “Japan Will Build World’s Largest Liquefied Hydrogen Carrier.” The Maritime Executive, January 6, 2026 — NEDO Green Innovation Fund Project documentation, budget approx. $2 billion USD.
[FN3] “The Road to Net Zero with Green Steel.” JapanGov, March 2024 — GMK Center, “Japanese green steel,” September 2025, covering the Hydrogen Steelmaking Consortium and Super COURSE50 project targets.
[FN4] “LONGi Achieves 34.85% Efficiency for Two‑Terminal Tandem Perovskite Solar Cell.” pv magazine, April 18, 2025 — Fluxim Research Blog, “Highest Perovskite Solar Cell Efficiencies (2026 Update),” February 2026; NREL Best Research‑Cell Efficiency Chart.
[FN5] Bellini, E. “EPFL, CSEM achieve world record efficiency of 30.02% in perovskite‑silicon triple‑junction solar cell.” pv magazine, March 19, 2026 — Certification by SIMIT (Shanghai Institute of Microsystem and Information Technology).
[FN6] Bellini, E. “Chinese researchers achieve world‑record efficiency of 27.17% for inverted perovskite solar cell.” pv magazine, May 11, 2026 — CGTN, “China’s perovskite solar cell hits 27.98% efficiency, setting new world record,” April 3, 2026.
[FN7] IEA. The State of Energy Innovation 2026. Paris: International Energy Agency, March 2026 — “Solid‑State Batteries 2026: How the Technology Is Finally Reaching Commercial Use,” to7motor.com, March 20, 2026.
[FN8] “How fusion energy and AI can power the next era of energy demand.” World Economic Forum, January 12, 2026 — IEA, The State of Energy Innovation 2026, Chapter 7: Focus on grid‑connected fusion energy, March 2026.
[FN9] Wang, S., Li, W., Yu, C. et al. “Flexible perovskite/silicon tandem solar cells with 33.6% efficiency.” Nature 649, 59–64, 2026 — Longi, “Flexible perovskite‑silicon tandem solar cell with dual buffer layer,” pv magazine, November 26, 2025.