Thin-film Solar Cells in Baseball Stadium Achieve Power Generation Target More than One Month Ahead of Schedule

Honda Motor Co. announced on January 18, 2011, that the solar power generation system using thin-film solar cells manufactured by Honda Soltec Co.-- a subsidiary of Honda-- achieved its annual electricity generation target of 193,000 kWh on January 7, 2011, in Hanshin Koshien Stadium in Hyogo Prefecture, which was 52 days earlier than the schedule. The operation of the system started on March 1, 2010.

The power produced by the thin-film solar cells is used for passageway lighting, air conditioning, and other electric facilities in the stadium. It is used for day games of high school baseball tournaments and professional baseball games, and also supplements the power that maintains the stadium during the off-season.

The power generation target is 193,000 kWh, which is about four percent of the power consumed by the stadium each year. This amount is equivalent to the electricity used annually to light the stadium during night games. In effect, the reduction of CO2 is approximately 133 tons per year.

The CIGS thin-film solar cell developed by Honda is made from a compound consisting of copper, indium, gallium and selenium (CIGS), and requires low energy for manufacturing. The company intends to popularize the use of this thin-film solar cell by developing products that meet the market's needs.

Hanshin Koshien Reborn As Eco-Friendly Stadium (Related JFS article)
http://www.japanfs.org/en/pages/030675.html

Posted: 2011/05/30 06:00:15 AM