Japan
Fuji Debuts Solar Power Conditioners
02 July 2012POSTED IN New Products
Fuji Electric today announced the release of the PVI Series of power conditioners for use in large-scale solar applications.
Japan's Solar Tariff Increase Sees Rise in Stock Prices
19 June 2012POSTED IN Business News
Shares of solar power specialists rose on Monday after Japan moved to boost its spending on electricity from sunlight as an alternative to nuclear power.
Kyocera Solar Helps Maldives Meet Renewable Energy Goals
13 June 2012POSTED IN Applications News
Kyocera Corporation along with Toyota Tsusho Corporation and Wakachiku Construction Co., Ltd. announced that the companies are working to install 675 kilowatts (kW) of Kyocera's solar power generating systems at schools and other public facilities in the island nation of the Republic of Maldives (also known as the Maldive Islands) located in the Indian Ocean.
Panasonic Begins Mass Producing Li-ion Battery Systems for European Homes
04 June 2012POSTED IN Business News
Panasonic Corporation announced today that in June 2012 it will start mass production of a compact, secure, long-life lithium-ion (Li-ion) battery system that the company has developed for European homes. This marks the first time that Panasonic has produced in volume this kind of system designed for Europe.
SNEC 2012: Costs and cooperation
17 May 2012POSTED IN Editors Blogs
On the first day of the International Solar Industry and Photovoltaic Exhibition & Conference, being held this week in Shanghai, China, keynote speeches were given by leaders in the solar industry. Although it is a difficult time for the whole industry, all the presenters believe that there are opportunities despite the challenges. Crucial cooperation is needed under these circumstances.
Yingli Establishes Regional Headquarters in Japan
04 May 2012POSTED IN Business News
Yingli Green Energy, a photovoltaic manufacturer that markets its products under the brand Yingli Solar, today announced the establishment of its regional headquarters in Tokyo, Japan.
Japanese Quake Zone School Receives Solar Facilities Funded by Coca-Cola
25 April 2012POSTED IN Business News
The Coca-Cola Japan Reconstruction Fund held a ceremony yesterday, 24 April 2012, at the Shiraishi Daiichi Elementary School in Miyagi Prefecture to commemorate the completion of solar generating facilities for which the fund provided a substantial grant. The school is the first of those targeted for assistance in the earthquake-stricken areas to have installed such facilities.
Sub-2-Micrometer-Thick Solar Cell Paves Way to Ultra-Thin OPV
24 April 2012POSTED IN Research
Researchers have unveiled a sub-2-micron-thick organic solar cell that is the result of a collaborative research project between the Johannes Kepler University (JKU), Linz (Austria), and the University of Tokyo, Tokyo (Japan). The ultrathin-film devise is thinner than a thread of spider silk; so thin and elastic, in fact, it wraps around a human hair. Demonstrating equal power conversion efficiency to their glass-based counterparts, the novel OPV cells could pave the way to solar applications such as supplying power to medical sensors built into clothing, so-called “electronic skin” and surface conforming foils.
Report Says Government Incentives Drive PV Semiconductor Market
12 April 2012POSTED IN Business News
Government incentives that encourage investment in renewable energies will continue to drive technological advances in the global semiconductor market, according to a new report by GBI Research.
Kyocera, IHI, Mizuho CB to Build 70MW Solar Power Plant in Japan
10 April 2012POSTED IN Business News
Kyocera Corporation, IHI Corporation and Mizuho Corporate Bank (CB) today announced that they have reached an agreement to construct a 70-megawatt (MW) solar power plant in southern Japan and to explore a business model for utility-scale solar power generation.
Solar in Japan: In the Wake of the March 2011 Disasters
25 March 2012POSTED IN Business Features
Renewable energies, in particular solar power, have steadily been picking up in Japan for the last few years. Even before the 11 March 2011 disasters, the domestic solar market was experiencing high growth, with more than 1GW of domestic shipments of solar power equipment for residential, industrial, commercial and utility-scale installations in fiscal year 2011; up almost 160% from the year before.
World Solar PV Market Grew 40% in 2011
19 March 2012POSTED IN Business News
Worldwide solar photovoltaic (PV) market installations reached a record high of 27.4 gigawatts (GW) in 2011, up 40% year to year, according to the annual PV market report, "2012 Marketbuzz," that was issued today by NPD Solarbuzz.
Lux Research’s 2011 Top 10 Module Manufacturers
14 March 2012POSTED IN Business News
First Solar and Suntech led in module manufacturing in 2011 with both having around 2GW of module production, according to Lux Research’s latest Solar Supply Tracker. Crystalline silicon module prices continue to be at a record low with Tier 1 manufacturers selling around $0.9/W while Tier 2 and Tier 3 manufacturers sold at even lower rates to burn through their inventories and survive the current market conditions.
The Asian Super Grid Initiative
12 March 2012POSTED IN Business News
A year after the nuclear disaster in Fukushima, the DESERTEC Foundation and the Japan Renewable Energy Foundation (JREF) will start to co-operate on promoting an Asian Super Grid necessary for the expansion of renewable energy in Asia. Shown here are Dr. Thiemo Gropp, Director of the DESERTEC Foundation and Dr. Tomas Kåberger, JREF Executive Board Chair.
Changing Feed-in-Tariffs: What it means for the solar industry
12 March 2012POSTED IN Business Features
Feed-in-tariffs (FiTs), initially implemented to stimulate the use of renewable energy, are now used to measure governments’ long-term commitment to green energy. Indecision and changing policies have led to an often confused situation and are having a detrimental impact on the PV industry.
Kyocera and SoftBank to Build Solar Power Plant in Kyoto, Japan
05 March 2012POSTED IN Applications News
The Kyocera Group and the SoftBank Group subsidiary in charge of renewable energy business, SB Energy Corp., today announced that the two companies have been selected by Kyoto City, Japan to build and operate a 4.2-megawatt (MW) solar power plant.
Oerlikon to Sell Solar Division to Tokyo Electron
05 March 2012POSTED IN Business News
The Oerlikon Group, based in Pfäffikon, Switzerland, announced that it will sell its solar segment to a leading global supplier of semiconductor production equipment, Tokyo Electron Limited (TEL) of Japan.
Honda, BMW Add Solar Systems to Facilities
02 March 2012POSTED IN Applications News
Honda and now BMW are turning to the “green side,” gearing up to fit solar PV panels at their production facilities.
Draker Labs Enters Japanese Market
28 February 2012POSTED IN Business News
Draker Laboratories, an independent provider of turnkey monitoring and asset management solutions for commercial and utility-scale solar photovoltaic (PV) projects, today announced it is entering the Japanese market through a strategic partnership with EKO Instruments Co., Ltd. of Tokyo, Japan.
Tigo Energy Technology on Display at PV Expo Japan
28 February 2012POSTED IN Applications News
Tigo Energy today announced collaboration with partners that will display their latest solar products based on Tigo Energy next-generation module technology at PV Expo Japan in Tokyo, 29 Feb. through 2 March.
