Solar Frontier has started commercial production at its 150MW Tohoku plant in Miyagi Prefecture, Japan.
The company’s new copper, indium, selenium (CIS) solar panel plant features its most advanced production technology.
The Japanese solar module manufacturer says that compared to its 900MW Kunitomi plant in southern Japan, the Tohoku facility needs just one-third of the time and two-thirds of the investment and manpower needed to produce solar modules.
Using this technology as a template, Solar Frontier is confident of bringing this technology to the global platform at reduced prices and reduced production time can make it more profitable.
The announcement to construct the Tohoku plant was made by Solar Frontier in 2013 and the construction of the plant was completed in April, 2015.
At present, Tohoku plant has started the manufacture of CIS panels which are of higher quality and build compared to Kunitomi plant.
The company has plans to start sales of the modules produced at the new plant this summer in Miyagi region before being introduced in other areas of Japan.
Solar Frontier aims to increase the production of the new plant to up to 180MW and more once it reaches its full capacity.
Some of the plant’s features include a busbar in the middle which can improve the panel’s power generation capability when partially being covered by shadows.
The lower module voltage can offer greater flexibility during system design. The frame and junction-box of the panels have also been modified for better handling during installation.
Image: Solar Frontier’s new Tohoku plant in Miyagi Prefecture, Japan. Courtesy of SOLAR FRONTIER K.K.