Power Roll, Seaham seals deal with Tokyo Gas, Japan

The joint development agreement will see Power Roll, based in Seaham, partner with Tokyo Gas to introduce its solar film technology to the Japanese market, following Ms McGuinness’ trade mission to Japan last year.

She said: “This partnership between Power Roll and Tokyo Gas shows the depth of opportunity there is to secure and grow green energy investment and with that jobs in places like County Durham.

“I was proud to meet with Tokyo Gas on behalf of Power Roll during our trade mission to Japan last year, when I saw first-hand the global appetite there is in our cutting-edge technology, so I am delighted it has now led to this agreement.

“North East England has the people, the technology and the spirit of innovation to become the home of the green energy revolution.

“Our engineers and our businesses are making a real difference on the global stage, and we are backing them to deliver the job security and growth opportunities that brings.”

The agreement is expected to help Power Roll scale up as a global exporter and develop a supply chain to support large-scale production for Japan.

Power Roll’s solar film technology is lightweight, flexible and ultra-low-cost, enabling applications on rooftops, vertical surfaces and other non-traditional locations.

Neil Spann, chief executive of Power Roll, said: “This Joint Development Agreement with Tokyo Gas represents a major milestone in our long standing relationship as we work to bring our game-changing solar film technology to market.

“Tokyo Gas is a natural partner for us, thanks to their expertise, innovation, and commitment to driving clean energy solutions.

“Together, we aim to establish Japan as the global leader in perovskite solar technology while addressing critical energy challenges globally.

“This partnership underscores the long-term potential of our collaboration to create impactful solutions for renewable energy generation.

“By combining Power Roll’s cutting-edge solar technology with Tokyo Gas’s market leadership, ability to scale and infrastructure, we are laying the groundwork for a new era in solar power that will redefine how and where solar energy is deployed.”

The agreement will advance technical designs for Power Roll’s perovskite solar film and support the next phase of product development, certification and market evaluation across Japan.

Tokyo Gas already conducts research and development in perovskite solar cells and will now begin pre-commercial trials of Power Roll’s technology at its facilities to test real-world performance.

The partnership supports Japan’s efforts to accelerate advancements in perovskite photovoltaics and maintain its position as a leader in renewable energy innovation.

Power Roll’s technology is designed for ultra-low-cost production using non-toxic materials and roll-to-roll manufacturing processes rather than more costly alternatives.

Unlike conventional panels, Power Roll’s solar films are designed for versatility and can be integrated into the built environment, including urban and commercial settings where weight and flexibility are critical.

Power Roll and Tokyo Gas will work together to explore further use cases, market routes and commercial applications as part of their ongoing collaboration.