World’s First Vending Machine Using Chalcopyrite Solar Cells Premiers in Japan

PHP is exploring new ways to use chalcopyrite through vending machines to help make renewable energy more accessible and support a decarbonized future

PXP Co., Ltd. (“PXP”) and Suntory Holdings Limited (“Suntory”) began a demonstration experiment of the world’s first vending machine powered by chalcopyrite solar cells.* Starting in July 2025, a Suntory vending machine was installed at Asamizo Park in Sagamihara to verify the practicality and power supply capacity of chalcopyrite solar cells in vending machines. The demonstration site is provided by Sagamihara City, near the border of Tokyo (where PXP is headquartered), according to a press release to PR TIMES.**

Chalcopyrite solar cells are lightweight, flexible, and have excellent outdoor durability and impact resistance, and are attracting attention as a next-generation solar cell.*** The demonstration experiment for this vending machine will use solar panels modularized with chalcopyrite solar cells developed by PXP.

Conventional solar panels using silicon solar cells are heavy due to the use of hard, thick crystalline silicon and the tempered glass that covers it, and require additional equipment such as a stand or roof to install them on a vending machine. Furthermore, the additional equipment places restrictions on the installation location and the number of solar panels that can be installed per vending machine.

For this demonstration experiment, Suntory and PXP worked together with the help of Mitsubishi Corporation, which has expertise in decarbonization solutions, to take advantage of the characteristics of chalcopyrite solar cells and install solar panels directly on the vending machine itself without any additional equipment. Furthermore, because the solar panels can be installed on all four sides of the vending machine — both sides, the back, and the top — it is expected that the amount of power generated will be greater than that of vending machines equipped with conventional solar panels. This marks the world’s first attempt at using solar panels using chalcopyrite solar cells on a vending machine.

In the demonstration experiment, PHP plans to verify the practicality and power supply capacity of chalcopyrite solar cells in vending machine operation, with the aim of commercializing them. In the future, they aim to install them in places where vending machines have not been able to be installed until now and to use them as a power source in the event of a disaster. In addition, based on the results of this demonstration, PHP will also consider expanding their use to factories, buildings, and other areas other than vending machines.

Through this demonstration project, PHP will accelerate their efforts to further commercialize and popularize renewable energy in order to realize a decarbonized society.

Learn more about PXP Co., Ltd.

Learn more about Suntory Holdings Limited

---

* World’s first, according to Suntory research (as of the date of announcement). In addition to the chalcopyrite solar cells, a secondary power source will also be used in the demonstration experiment

** As seen in a press release by PHP to PR TIMES, a press release and news release distribution service based in Japan.

*** Next-generation solar cells include perovskite solar cells (organic semiconductors) and chalcopyrite solar cells (inorganic compound semiconductors), depending on the mineral ore used as the material