Honda Joins CIGS Solar Cell Producers

Honda Motor Co. (HMC), announced plans to establish a wholly-owned subsidiary, Honda Soltec Co., Ltd., which will produce and sell CIGS thin film solar cells independently developed by Honda. The CIGS cell uses about 50% less energy than is used in producing crystal silicon solar cells. A new facility will become operational in fall 2007, at the site of Honda’s Kumamoto factory, with an annual capacity of 27.5 megawatts.

The next-generation solar cell to be produced and sold by Soltec was developed by Honda Engineering Co., Ltd., the production engineering subsidiary of Honda. Using CIGS technology reduces the amount of energy consumed during the manufacturing process by approximately 50% compared to what is required to produce conventional crystal silicon solar cells. This makes the new solar cell more environmentally-friendly by reducing the amount of CO2 generated from the production stage.

At the end of September 2006, Honda began construction of a plant to mass produce solar cells within the current site of Honda’s Kumamoto factory. The new facility will become operational in fall 2007 with an annual capacity of 27.5 megawatts. The 11,080 square meter plant, costing approximately 7 billion yen will employ approximately 150.

Prior to the start-up of the new plant, in March 2007, Soltec will begin sales, in limited areas, of CIGS thin film compound solar cells produced by Honda Engineering. Once mass production begins at the new plant in the fall of 2007, Honda Soltec will expand sales throughout Japan.

Honda joins the growing field of manufactures of CIGS solar cells that includes Q-Cells, Daystar, Global Solar, HelioVolt, Konarka, Miasole, and Nanosolar. The endorsement of this list of companies plus the combination of low cost, non-silicon materials, a low cost manufacturing cost and a fair efficiency, above 12%, makes me believe that CIGS have a chance to become the low cost PV cell of the future.

With Honda and the Q-cells, added to this list, two companies with a global reach and marketing prowess have the power to make this happen.

Comments

[AUGUSTINE:]

THINK OF PUTTING THIS PRICEY IDEA OF NEW SOLAR CELL INTO A PRODUCT AND MAKE IT KNOWN TO THE WORLD WHICH WILL ENHANCE IMPROVEMENT BOTH ECONOMICALLY,INDUSTRIA... AND PUBLICITY.
WE WAIT ON YOUR REPLY,WE NEED YOUR HELP.
EMMANUEL AND AUGUSTINE.

2008 Aug 12 09:50 AM