Developing ultra-lightweight and flexible solar cell films that overcome the limitations of conventional solar cells
Capable of generating power even in low-light environments such as cloudy conditions or indoors

 is a faculty startup from Gwangju Institute of Science and Technology, developing ultra-lightweight and flexible solar cell films that address the limitations of conventional silicon solar cells, with the vision of creating a world where energy can be freely used anywhere. The company was founded in November 2022 by CEO Lee Kwang-hee.

Its flagship product is a next-generation solar cell film. Conventional silicon solar cells, which dominate the current solar market, are heavy, rigid, and fragile, making them unsuitable for curved surfaces. In contrast, leecell’s film-type solar cells are lightweight—approximately one-tenth the weight of silicon—and highly flexible, enabling installation on various curved surfaces such as building facades, vehicle sunroofs, and greenhouses. In addition, they perform efficiently even under low-light conditions, making them applicable across a wide range of fields, from indoor IoT sensor power sources to building-integrated photovoltaics (BIPV) and mobility-integrated photovoltaics (MIPV).

leecell’s core competitiveness lies in its superior cost efficiency and application flexibility. When mass-produced, the next-generation solar cell film is expected to cost approximately one-third of conventional silicon cells. Its lightweight nature significantly reduces installation and construction costs. The film form allows attachment to virtually any curved surface, including weight-restricted environments such as rooftops, building exteriors, vehicles, and drones. Moreover, it can generate power even in low-light environments such as cloudy weather or indoors. The company has established strong barriers to entry by securing proprietary wet-process technology for next-generation solar cells and numerous domestic and international patents.

leecell focuses on providing demand-driven B2B and B2G energy solutions. In B2B, it collaborates with companies in the window, mobility, home appliance, and IoT sectors through joint development and proof-of-concept (PoC) projects, delivering customized solutions and converting them into mass production contracts. The company also positions its products as solutions for ESG and RE100 initiatives. In B2G, leecell provides solutions for zero-energy buildings (ZEB) for governments and public institutions, while expanding into the public sector through procurement and demonstration projects. The company is actively developing four key business areas: low-light photovoltaics (LPV), building-integrated photovoltaics (BIPV), mobility-integrated photovoltaics (MIPV), and agricultural photovoltaics (APV).

Recognized for its technology and growth potential, leecell has successfully secured both government R&D funding and private investment. In 2023, it was selected for the Deep Tech TIPS program by the Ministry of SMEs and Startups, receiving KRW 1.5 billion in R&D funding. As of 2025, the company has secured approximately KRW 4 billion in combined research funding and investment. It is also planning to raise bridge investment to accelerate commercialization through mass production.

Regarding the motivation for founding the company, CEO Lee stated:
“In the era of energy transition, achieving true carbon neutrality requires alternatives that go beyond the limitations of conventional silicon solar cells. After more than 30 years of research, next-generation solar cell technology has finally reached a level close to commercialization. Through this, we aim to address global energy shortages and imbalances. We were confident that our ultra-lightweight, flexible film-type solar cell technology could enable energy generation anywhere—from buildings and mobility to everyday devices—which led us to establish leecell as a GIST faculty startup. Initial funding was secured through GIST startup support, along with the Deep Tech TIPS program and seed investment in 2023.”

Reflecting on the journey after founding the company, Lee added:
“The most rewarding experience has been transforming a technology developed in the lab over 34 years into a tangible product—the next-generation solar cell film—together with our R&D team. It was truly fulfilling to see this long-envisioned technology finally realized.”

leecell possesses a total of 52 years of combined expertise in solar cell R&D, led by CEO Lee and CTO Kang Hong-gyu. The company currently has 16 employees, including 9 R&D personnel. Core R&D is led by former GIST researchers (2 PhDs and 6 master’s degree holders), while manufacturing operations are overseen by a veteran with 30 years of factory management experience. The organization consists of a Corporate Research Institute, Management Support Division, Brand Strategy Division, Technology Innovation Division, and Manufacturing Operations Division.

Regarding future plans, Lee stated:
“In the short term, our goal is to successfully launch the world’s first next-generation solar cell film product by 2026 and enter the initial market.”

“In the mid-term, we plan to establish large-scale mass production by 2028 and pursue an IPO through expansion in the domestic market. In the long term, we aim to secure overseas production bases by 2030 and enter high-value markets by 2032, becoming a key global supplier. Ultimately, we aspire to grow into Gwangju’s first unicorn company.”

Founded: November 2022
Core Business: Manufacturing of next-generation hybrid (organic-inorganic) solar cell films

Achievements: Selected for IBK ChangGong Gwangju; selected for the 2023 Deep Tech TIPS program by the Ministry of SMEs and Startups

Reporter 이진호 / jinho2323@hankyung.com

Source https://magazine.hankyung.com/job-joy/article/202512142844d

리셀은 GIST 교원 창업 기업으로 ‘어디서나 자유롭게 에너지를 쓰는 세상’을 만들기 위해 기존 실리콘 태양전지의 한계를 극복할 수 있는 초경량·유연 태양광전지 필름을 개발하고 있다. 이광희 대표가 2022년 11월에 설립했다.

대표 아이템은 차세대 태양전지 필름이다. 현재 태양광 시장의 표준인 실리콘 태양전지는 무겁고, 평판형이라 깨지기 쉬우며 곡면 설치가 불가능한 한계가 있다. 리셀의 차세대 태양전지 필름은 이러한 문제를 해결한 ‘필름형’ 태양전지다. 무게가 실리콘의 1/10 수준에 불과하고 유연성이 뛰어나 건물 외벽, 차량 선루프, 비닐하우스 등 기존에 설치가 불가능했던 다양한 곡면에도 부착할 수 있다. 또한, 저조도(낮은 밝기)에서도 발전 성능이 우수하여 실내 IoT 센서 전원부터 건물일체형(BIPV), 모빌리티(MIPV)까지 적용 분야가 무궁무진하다.

리셀의 경쟁력은 압도적인 경제성과 적용 유연성이다. 차세대 태양전지 필름은 양산 시 생산 가격이 실리콘의 약 1/3 수준으로 예상된다. 또한 무게가 1/10로 가벼워 시공 및 설치 비용을 획기적으로 낮출 수 있다. 필름 형태라 어떤 곡면이든 부착할 수 있으며, 초경량 소재로 무게 제한이 있는 건물 옥상이나 외벽, 차량, 드론 등에도 적용할 수 있고, 흐린 날이나 실내처럼 빛이 적은 환경에서도 발전이 가능하다. 세계 유일의 차세대 태양전지 습식공정 기술 및 다수의 국내외 특허 기술력을 확보하여 독보적인 진입장벽을 구축했다.

리셀은 수요 기반의 B2B 및 B2G 에너지 솔루션을 제공하는 데 집중하고 있다. B2B 마케팅으로는 창호, 모빌리티, 가전, IoT 분야의 수요 기업과 공동 개발 및 PoC를 진행하며 맞춤형 제품을 공급하고 있다. 이를 통해 양산 계약으로 전환을 유도하고, 기업들의 ESG 및 RE100 대응 소재로 제안하고 있다. B2G로는 정부와 공공기관의 제로에너지건축물(ZEB) 대응 솔루션을 제공하고, 조달 및 실증 사업에 참여하여 공공 부문으로 판로를 확대하고 있다. 구체적으로는 저조도 광전지(LPV), 건물일체형(BIPV), 모빌리티(MIPV), 영농형(APV) 등 4대 사업 분야를 중심으로 시장을 개척 중이다.

리셀은 기술력과 성장성을 인정받아 정부 R&D 자금과 민간 투자를 성공적으로 유치했다. 2023년 중소벤처기업부의 딥테크 팁스(Deep Tech TIPS) 프로그램에 선정되어 15억 원의 R&D 자금을 지원받았으며, 꾸준한 투자 유치를 통해, 2025년 기준 공동 수행 연구비 및 자금을 합쳐 약 40억 원을 확보한 상태다. 또한, 양산화를 통한 상용화 시기를 앞당기기 위해 브릿지 투자를 유치할 계획 중이다.

이 대표는 어떻게 창업하게 됐을까. “에너지 대전환 시대에 진정한 탄소중립을 위해서는 기존 실리콘 태양전지의 한계를 뛰어넘는 새로운 대안이 필요하다고 생각했습니다. 30년 넘게 태양전지를 연구하며 드디어, 차세대 태양전지 기술이 상용화를 바라볼 수 있을 정도의 수준까지 도달하였기에 이를 통해 전 세계의 에너지 부족 및 불균형 문제를 해결하고자 하였습니다. 우리가 연구해 온 초경량·유연 필름형 태양전지 기술이라면 건물, 모빌리티, 일상 가전 등 말 그대로 ‘어디서나’ 에너지를 생산하는 세상을 만들 수 있겠다는 확신이 들어 GIST 교원 창업기업으로 ㈜리셀을 설립하게 되었습니다. 초기 자금은 GIST 교원 창업 지원과 더불어, 기술력을 인정받아 2023년 중소벤처기업부 딥테크 팁스 및 시드 투자 등을 통해 R&D 및 사업화 자금을 확보했습니다.”

창업 후 이 대표는 “34년간 연구실(Lab)에서 개발하던 기술을 우리 R&D 핵심 인력들과 한 팀이 되어 전력투구한 끝에 ‘차세대 태양전지 필름’이라는 실제 제품으로 탄생시키는 과정에서 가장 큰 보람을 느낀다”며 “꿈에 그리던 차세대 태양전지 필름 기술이 마침내 실체화되는 것을 본 것이다”고 말했다.

리셀은 이 대표와 강홍규 CTO를 중심으로, 태양전지 R&D 경력 도합 52년의 기술 전문성을 갖추고 있다. 현재 총 16명의 인원이 함께하고 있으며, 이 중 9명이 R&D 인력입니다. GIST 연구진 출신이 핵심 R&D를 담당하고(박사급 2명, 석사급 6명), 30년 공장 운영 경력을 가진 베테랑이 제조운영실을 총괄하여 생산 노하우를 확보하고 있다. 조직은 크게 기업부설연구소, 경영지원실, 브랜드전략실, 기술혁신실, 제조운영실로 구성되어 있다.

앞으로의 계획에 대해 이 대표는 “단기적으로는 2026년까지 세계 최초로 차세대 태양전지 필름 신제품을 성공적으로 출시하여 초기 시장에 진입하는 것이 목표”라고 말했다.

“중기적으로는 2028년까지 대규모 양산 체계를 구축하고 국내 시장 확대를 통해 IPO를 추진할 계획입니다. 장기적으로는 2030년 해외 생산 거점을 확보하고 2032년까지 고부가가치 시장에 진출하여 글로벌 핵심 공급자로 도약하는 것이 목표입니다. 이를 통해 광주시 최초의 유니콘 기업으로 성장하고자 합니다.

© 매거진한경, 무단전재 및 재배포 금지

출처: https://magazine.hankyung.com/job-joy/article/202512142844d

The South Korean startup is developing organic solar cell technology made using a proprietary roll-to-roll process. It targets both indoor and outdoor integrated PV applications.

December 29, 2025 Valerie Thompson

Image: Gwangju Institute of Science and Technology

South Korea-based thin film PV specialist Leecell is developing an organic solar cell technology for a range of indoor and outdoor integrated PV applications, with first products planned for mid-2026.

Founded by Gwangju Institute of Science and Technology (GIST) faculty members, Leecell has proprietary technologies for both organic photovoltaics (OPV) and perovskite solar cells. “However, our primary focus for commercialization is currently OPV,” the spokesperson told pv magazine.

Initial products are planned for the first half of 2026, following completion of an optimization for the mass production phase. It is using a fully solution-based roll-to-roll (R2R) process that is optimized for nano-thin film printing, according to the spokesperson.

Targeted applications include agrivoltaics, internet of things (IoT) devices, building-integrated photovoltaics (BIPV), and mobility applications.

Leecell was founded in November 2022 by GIST faculty members Kwanghee Lee, chief executive officer, and Hongkyu Kang, chief technology officer, who have published extensive research about thin film PV topics, among others topics.

The spokesperson noted that it points to foundational principles, but specific technologies related to novel commercial products and mass production processes are not made public.

출처: https://www.pv-magazine.com/2025/12/29/leecell-develops-organic-pv-for-indoor-outdoor-use

The South Korean startup is developing organic solar cell technology made using a proprietary roll-to-roll process. It targets both indoor and outdoor integrated PV applications.

December 29, 2025 Valerie Thompson

Image: Gwangju Institute of Science and Technology

South Korea-based thin film PV specialist Leecell is developing an organic solar cell technology for a range of indoor and outdoor integrated PV applications, with first products planned for mid-2026.

Founded by Gwangju Institute of Science and Technology (GIST) faculty members, Leecell has proprietary technologies for both organic photovoltaics (OPV) and perovskite solar cells. “However, our primary focus for commercialization is currently OPV,” the spokesperson told pv magazine.

Initial products are planned for the first half of 2026, following completion of an optimization for the mass production phase. It is using a fully solution-based roll-to-roll (R2R) process that is optimized for nano-thin film printing, according to the spokesperson.

Targeted applications include agrivoltaics, internet of things (IoT) devices, building-integrated photovoltaics (BIPV), and mobility applications.

Leecell was founded in November 2022 by GIST faculty members Kwanghee Lee, chief executive officer, and Hongkyu Kang, chief technology officer, who have published extensive research about thin film PV topics, among others topics.

The spokesperson noted that it points to foundational principles, but specific technologies related to novel commercial products and mass production processes are not made public.

Source: https://www.pv-magazine.com/2025/12/29/leecell-develops-organic-pv-for-indoor-outdoor-use