The Nikkei reports that several Japanese companies are developing technologies that can help lower the cost of solar power.
Recent advances include a glass coating developed by Toray Industries that boosts the power-generation efficiency of solar cells by damping the reflection of sunlight. Technology pursued by Toppan Printing places wiring on the back side of solar cells, freeing more surface area to receive sunlight.
Companies producing solar power equipment and solar power components are intensifying their price competition to win market share. Material makers anticipate strong demand from these firms for technologies that make solar power more cost effective. And there is a strong incentive. At a current cost of more than 30 yen per kWH, solar power is expensive compared with the roughly 10 yen of gas and coal fired power plants, and although the japanese government intends to introduce a feed-in-tariff mechanism for renewable-energy resources in 2012, the power generation efficiency of solar power systems needs to be improved and the cost of solar power lowered if its widespread adoption is to be achieved.
Toray has developed an anti-reflective glass coating film that that enables solar cells to capture more sunlight. For a common silicon solar cell, this film boosts efficiency by 0.3 to 0.4 percentage points, which translates into a 3-4% reduction in power costs. The company’s subsidiary Toray Engineering has developed a machine that coats the glass with the film while automatically correcting glass warping. Toray plans to sell the machine and the film material to makers of solar cell glass, aiming for combined sales of 5 billion yen in 2015.
Toppan Printing is developing a material that can be used to place the wiring on the back of the solar cell instead of on the front. This design change is expected to increase the surface area of the solar panel exposed to sunlight by several percent, and in turn boost the energy efficiency of the solar power system. Toppan has begun supplying solar panel makers with prototypes and hopes to enter into mass production sometime during fiscal 2012.
Sekisui Chemical is developing a material that combines the properties of both the protective coating and the sealant for solar cells, and hopes to have the product ready for marketing in 2012. By using this material, solar cell makers will be able to omit a process step and lower their manufacturing costs.