Honda on Target for Production of Inorganic Compound Photovoltaics

Honda Motor Company Kumamoto Factory produces motorcycles and power products. It has added a new enterprise making inorganic compound photovoltaics. Honda Motor Co., Ltd. Announced in December 2006 plans to establish a wholly-owned subsidiary, Honda Soltec Co., Ltd., which will produce and sell the next-generation thin film solar cell independently developed by Honda. The new company will lead Honda to make a full-scale entry into the solar cell business.

 

The next-generation solar cell to be produced and sold by Honda Soltec was developed by Honda Engineering Co., Ltd., the production engineering subsidiary of Honda. By using thin film made from a compound of copper, indium, gallium and selenium (CIGS), Honda's next-generation solar cell achieves a major reduction in 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 even 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, and the new facility will become operational in fall 2007 with an annual capacity of 27.5 megawatts. Prior to the start-up of the new plant, Honda 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 Kumamoto in fall 2007, Honda Soltec will expand sales throughout Japan.

 

The capital investment is 4 billion yen and 150 associates are currently employed.

 

Honda Soltec Co Ltd

1500 Hirakawa,

Ozu-machi,

Kikuchi-gun,

Kumamoto (within the current site of Honda Motor Co., Ltd. Kumamoto factory)

 

For more read the new reports:

Inorganic Printed and Thin Film Electronics