Mitsubishi Heavy Industries to Mass Produce New Solar Cells

Mitsubishi Heavy Industries, Ltd. (MHI), of Japan has developed a new tandem-type photovoltaic (PV) cell consisting of micro-crystalline silicon and amorphous silicon films. This PV cell can generate 150 watts of electricity per panel, which is 50% higher than the output of the company's conventional amorphous PV cells. For commercial production of these PV modules, MHI began constructing a new plant in Isahaya, Nagasaki Prefecture in February 2006. The plant will be operational in April 2007.

The annual production capacity of the new plant will be 40,000 kilowatts. Together with the conventional amorphous PV modules, the company's annual PV manufacturing capacity will be boosted to 50,000 kilowatts, which is five times higher than the current level.

The newly developed tandem solar cell has two silicon film layers: micro-crystalline silicon and conventional amorphous silicon. This double layer structure allows the PV to absorb a wider portion of the solar spectrum, thus improving its electricity generation efficiency. MHI has developed this technology in collaboration with the New Energy and Industrial Technology Development Organization (NEDO), with the aim of commercializing it as a next-generation thin-film solar cell.

Unlike crystalline silicon solar cells which are facing a dwindling supply of raw materials, this thin-film tandem solar cell is expected to reduce costs and ensure a stable supply. With the prospect of a 30% annual growth in the global solar market, MHI aims to achieve sales of about 15 billion yen (about U.S.$128 million) in fiscal 2008.


Posted: 2006/05/31 02:31:40 PM
Japanese version