LG Display Co. Ltd., a developer of thin-film transistor liquid crystal display (TFT-LCD) technology, plans to launch research and development activities focusing on thin-film solar cells.
The company will invest KRW 50 billion into R&D to build a pilot line within its Paju display complex in Korea during the second half of 2009 and build an outdoor test power generation facility.
LG Display aims to raise the cell's current energy conversion efficiency rate of 8% to 12% by 2010, and eventually achieve an efficiency rate of 14% in 2012 to prepare for commercialization. The company also says it will secure sufficient commercial value by lowering the manufacturing cost to less than USD1 per watt.
In addition, LG Display will target the market for cells used in photovoltaic power generation, buildings and public displays during the initial stages of commercialization. The company's long-term blueprint includes expansion into solar cells for mobile displays and automobiles, as well as solar cells for extreme environments, such as offshore photovoltaic power generation stations.
SOURCE: LG Display
