Review of Japan Solar Cell Industry (2008 - 2014)

A. General market information

-2014-05-27 Dempa 

The Japanese government try to increase the renewable energy 20% of the total electricity generation by 2030.
New regulations: 1) The buying price has reduced from JPY36 to JPY32 per KW since 2st of April, 2014. 2) To set 180 days of the validity of the application of 50KW over.


-2014-02-26 Dempa

New trend - from Mega solar to Mini solar

From July, 2012 to June 2013 Mega Solar (over 1GW) 13.2GW about 70% of the total of all over 1KW. Since then however the percentage of Mega Solar has been down to 60% and may continue. The 10KW- 50KW range called "small Industrial" or "low voltage series system"  may increase.

Total shipment in 2013 (Jan-Dec) reached over 7.5GW (more than 300% increase over 2012, and of shich 5,2GW was for non-residential), which increased the import. Total sales of F/Y 2014, April 2014 - Match 2025) will reach 8GW.


-2013-09-19 Dempa

Jan-Jun 2013 shipment worldwide

No. 1  Yinli
No. 2  Trina
No. 3  First Solar
No. 4  Sharp
No. 5  Canadian Solar
No. 6  Ginko Solar
No, 7  Kyocera
No. 8  Lene Solar
No. 9  SunPower
No. 10 Suntech Power (largely down) No. 1 in 2010 amd 2011.
No. 11 Solar Frontier

-2013-02-27 Dempa
Japan market
FY2012 (April, 2012 - March, 2013)
Delivery Estimate: Domestic 1.5GW (1.2GW in FY2011),  Industrial/Commercial 0.5-15GW (very wide difference as they may include the installations in FY2013)  (0.2GW in FY2011)
1) Peripheral products and parts (*) - Power Conditioners and Rechargeable Batteries to optimize the collection and distribution of the solar energy and the related components including Power ICs, Diodes, Transistors, Capacitors, Inductors, Connectors, Relays, etc.
2) New Installation methods to reduce the installation time

(*) This part will be independently treated.

-2012-12-04 Dempa
Japan market
April, 2012 - March, 2013
Delivery Estimate: Domestic 1.5GW,  Industrial/Commercial 1.5GW
Industrial/Commercial sectors have been increasing rapidly due to the new regulation (100% purchase of power) started in July 2012. (Field in tariff). JPY42/W for 20 years.

Reliability issue
PID - Potential Induced Degradation 
Panasonic, Sharp, Kyocera passed
Installation Technology / Technicians / Regulations


-2012-11-29 Dempa
Shipments in April - Sept 1.394GW (Domestic 77%, export 23%)
Estimate in 2030 - Total installation will be 100G - 10% of total Electric Power

-2012-11-21 Dempa
Solar Cells import increased. Non Domestic sharply increased.

2012                 1Q (April - June)   2Q (July Sept)
Domestic             382MW                  446MW       
Non Domestic        61MW                 179MW
(Purchased by       (29MW)                  (71MW)
Power Company(

2012-09-27 Dempa
1) Residential
Market size - 1.2GW in 2011
Cost JPY2,000,000/KW in 1994, JPY500,000/KW in 2012
Installation Subsidiary 2012 JPY30,000 - 35,000/KW
2) Industrial (Non Residential)
Market size - 0.2GW in 2011
Total accumulated installation  - 1GW
Feed-in Tariff System (100% Buy) started in July, 2012
Purchase price JPY42 (40 after tax)/kW for 20 years - Requirement of Quality guarantee by the supplier


2012-04-04 Dempa
German Q Cells - Bankrupt

2012-02-29 Dempa
Domestic Delivery from factories in 2011 - 1,296,100kW (Total delivery from factories including export 2,759,000kW)
Break down by types
a) Mono Silicon - 951,000kW (by 11.7% increase over 2010)
b) Poly Silicon - 1,153,000kW (by 6.9% decrease over 2010)
c) Si Thin Film and others - 654000kW (by 88.8% increase over 2010)

B. Suppliers 
(The order of the companies and the block letters have no special meanings)

1. Toshiba
-2013-09-18 Dempa   
The sales for residential market has been 50% up over the last year. In addition to 250W modules, 125W(made as a building block) to Misawa homes, plus 200W, 175W, 83W types wih different shapes will be introduced to the housing market,
-2013-02-13 Dempa 

250W modules have been introduced and 240W modules will phase out by March, 2013 meanwhile the low cost 200W modules are sold to the residential market. Solar panel built in roof materials will be introduced in autumn this year. 20 year guarantee (not free) for 1K - 10KW as well as to 10K - 50KW.
Sun Power made module 250W (module efficiency 20.1%. Aiming Market share 15%
-2013-02-04 Dempa
From 10 year to 20 year guarantee (not free)
Newly introduce Sun Power made module 250W added to 240W and 200W models.
-2012--09-27 Dempa
Products
240W high efficiency (module efficiency 19.3%) Back contact. 150mm² --> 160mm² , Cell Efficiency 22.6%
200W low cost (module efficiency 15.4%) "Black Model" mono silicon Module efficiency 15.4%
Guarantee - 10 years

- 2012-07-30 Dempa News
Products
Supplier: Sun Power (USA)
240W high efficiency (module efficiency 19.3%)
200W low cost (Module efficiency 15.4%) "Black Model" - price JPY132,300
Sales
1) Social Infrastructure, 2) Power Distribution, 3) Solar Power Generation, 4) Residential Power Generation, 5) Mega-Solar retail shops

-2011-07-28 Demp
Sales - Agents, Home makers and builders
Products
Supplier: Sun Power (USA) Mono silicon - Highest Cell efficiency 21.5% + Back contact


2. Kyocera

-2014-05-02 Dempa
 Poly type from 800MW to 1.2GW in 2014. 1.4G in FY2014..

-2014-04-29 Dempa
Reached 1.2GW and sales JPY200 billions (US$1 billion) with profit retained in F/Y 2013 (ended March, 2014). Mostly for Japan domestic market and 60% for industrial and 40% for home use. Kyocera total sasles of FY2013 reached JPY1,474.7 billions (US$14.7 billions) and record sales. Kyocera sold 12 million mobile phones in HY2103 besides their high marker share products of ceramic packages for ICs.

-2014-04-24 Dempa
Will introduce Mono type in 2014. Poly type cell efficiency reached 18.6% (last record 17.8%)

-2014-02-28 Dempa
 Poly type from 800MW to 1.2GW in 2014. Will introduce Mono type in 2014.

-2013-07-03 Dempa
Sales exploded by 5.5 time in F/Y2012 over F/Y 20111.F/Y 2013 will further grom by 2.5 times over F.Y 2012 and reaching 1GW.


 -2013-02-27 Dempa
 70MW Kagoshima Mega-Watt project
Poly type Residential 200W module efficiency 17.8%
Industrial 254W
 
-2012-12-25 Dempa
Production FY2012 750MW and 1GW in FY2013 .
70MW Mega soalr project
Production of Domestic use SOFC (solid oxide fuel cell) will become double to triple in 2013.

-2012-09-05 Dempa
Kagoshima Mega Solar - 70MW, 290,000 panels in 1,270,000m², cost JPY27,000.000.000 (joint venture with 5th companies including IHI)

-2010--06-30 Dempa
Sales
Franchise (FCs), Kyocera  Solar Franchise 150 in 2010, Installation Maters 350 --> 1000 in 2010

-2009-07-01 Dempa
Cell Production forecast - 650MW

-2009-06-24 Dempa
Sales
Franchise (FCs), Kyocera  Solar Franchise (64 ---> 100 FCs  in 2009) - Products, Sales, Installations, After-sales Service
School New Deal - 12,000 schools in three years
Production:  650MW Cell Modules in 2011


3. Mitsubishi


-2014-03-04 Dempa

 From 330MW to 450MW in Kyoto factory in May, 2013. Cell factory in IIda, Nagana Prefecture 300MW + cells/modules from outside, making the total 650MW.


-2014-02-28 Dempa
From 450MW to 650MW in Kyoto factory in 2013. Cell supply from outside will increase.

-2013-07-10 Dempa
500MW sales in F/& 2013
Module production 330MW -->450MW in Kyoto factory
Cells from foreign suppliers
Home 50% Indiustrial 50% in 2012 - Home 40% Industrial 60%in 2013

-2012--12-04 Dempa

Home Energy Management System (HEMS)
Tablet Monitor
Module 20 year guarantee (minimum 80%)

-2012--09-27 Dempa
Products
Industrial - 3 categories: i) 10K - 50KW, ii) 50K-500KW, iii) 500KW or more with Power conditioner using 261W/250W modules, experiment of installation in their factory in Itami, Japan.
Residential - "Multi Roof" using 212W module and Slim module 168W.with various shapes to fit various shapes of roofs.

2012-02-29 Dempa
Products
a) Residential
New product 210W
b) Industrial
250W and 209W for flat roof, 209W for slant roof

-2011-09-28 Demp
New products
210W Pb Free, Shapes - Rectangle + Square, Trapezoid
Price 210W Rectangle JPY149,940
Sales strategy - Smart House, HEMS (Home Energy Management System)

-2011-07-28 Demp
Production FY 2009 120MW, FY 2010 210MW
Sales - Agents - Paid guarantee 10 years and 20 years
New product - 210W Mono Silicon - 4 Bass bar electrodes

-2009-07-01 Dempa
Module Production forecast 220MW ---> 600MW in 2010
-2009-06-24 Dempa
Products
Poly Silicon 150mm² 18.9%, Poly Silicon  + IR reflection
New Product: 185W module
Power Conditioner PV-N40G efficiency 97.5%

-2009-05-18 Dempa
Sales
FY 2008 Sales - JPY53,200,000 ,000
FY2009 forecast - JPY60,000,000,000
Production - Current 220MW ---> 600MW in 2011

-2008-06-26 Dempa
Prodcucts
Poly Silicon Solar Cells - Efficiency 18.6%
Power conditioners


4. Suntech Power Japan

-2013-08-07 Dempa
Collaboration with NEC: Cloud MEMS (NEC) and Energy Storsge System (NEC)

-2013-07-19 Dempa
Introduce a slim size - height remains 1,640mm while width reduced by 1/3 to 676mm with 165W, efficiency 14.8 to fit the space together with the half size. The products will be produced at Nagano Technical Support Center.

-2013-03-22 Dempa
Wuxi Suntech Power (China) declared bankruptcy on 18th March.

-2013-03-15 Dempa
Will close the US factory in Arizona on 4th April.

-2013-02-27 Dempa
Industrial module 290W 14.9% (light weight)
Domestic module 260W 16.0%.
SOFT BANK Solar Business projects use Suntech products.


-2012-12-04 Dempa
25 year guarantee - new 260W module for domestic use
Silver and Black
LightThru module for Ajinomoto stadium 219KW , 1540 panels
260W 280 - 285 - 290W module for Industrial use

-2012-11-28 Dempa
Domestic and Industrial (increasing 60% of the total sales in volume)
Domestic Sales - House builders and Rtetailer (Yamada) - 10%

-2012-11-07 Dempa
W Series, V Series passed PID test.

-2012-09-27 Dempa
New Products for Industrial
a) Module 254W module efficiency 15.1% (existing modules 240W, 245W)
b) For Mega Solar - 1.5GW or more (module poly silicon 290W 14.9%)
c) Others - 285W, 280W
For Residential
a) Mono Silicon 260W, module efficiency 16% (Oct, 2012) Cell Size 125mm x 125mm ---> 156mm x 156mm

-2012-09-19 Dempa
Sunteck Power Japan, Interview with President Mr Yamamoto
Nagano Technical Support Center
Buying Solar Power started in July, 2012
Sales - Home market, started in 2009, market share 5%, Industrial started in 2012, market share target 20%
Advantages - i) cost competitiveness, ii) technical support - power generation guaranteed - 20 years
Production of custom modules according to the shapes of roofs


-2012-02-29 Dempa
New products
Module 290W module efficiency 14.9% (1956mm x 992mm x 50mm)
Sales
World wide accumulated installation - 5GW - World No.1
25 year guarantee, Output power tolerance +5/-0%

-2011-07-11 Dempa
Will end the Wafer supply contract and switch to own wafer production. Will end investment in German subsidiary CGS Solar of Thin Film technology.

-2011-03-25 Dempa
Suntech Power Japan - 2010 Sales JPY14,000,000,000. Market share 5%
 
-2009-02-20 Dempa
Sales in 2008 - 498MW
Purchased MSK (Shinjuku, Tokyo) in 2006 and had been making sales of MSK products. Will start sales of Suntech products in 2009.

-2009-01-14 Dempa
New contract with American Open Energy (Building Integrated PV). Purchased MSK (Shinjuku, Tokyo) in 2006 and had been making sales of MSK products including various BIPV products.

 
5. Sharp

-2014-02-28 Dempa
Black Solar (back contact) 200MW in Sakai factory plus supply from outside.

-2014-02-26 Dempa
Black Solar (back contact) Modules + XX total solution.


-2014-01-24 Dempa
The facory in USA (Tennessyee)  and the factory in England (Wales) will close by March, 2014 due the loss.

-2013-08-07 Dempa
Apr-Jun 2013 Sales JPY84,300M (twice as the same period in 2012) and changed profitable from loss.
Estimate in FY 2013 will be 1,800MW (200MW up).

-2013-06-17 Dempa
Sharp's concentrating photovoltaic (CPV) cells reached 44.4&% efficiency after Solar Junction, a San Jose-based manufacturer of concentrating photovoltaic (CPV) cells reacjing 44% last year (2012)

 -2013-04-26 Dempa
The newly developed Compound Solar Cells (InGaAr Three layer structure) showed 37.9% efficiency.

 -2013-02-27 Dempa
Multi-string Power conditioners
SIII installation method to reduce the installation time by 20%.

-2013-02-06 Dempa
Smart House Total solution - combing Solar (energy creation) with Lithium ion batteries - keeping 70% of the initial energy holding capacity after 8000 time charging (energy storage) and Cottrol (energy saving).
Sales of 2012 (ending March, 2013) will reach JPY245,000M (but still will loss).
-2012-12-20 Dempa
Black color Roof tile modules (installation without racks)

-2012-12-05
Mono NU250KA (250W/1655 x 989 x 39mm)
Poli NU300CA (300W/1971x994 x 39mm)

-2012-12-04 Dempa
Black Solar  -  full production  200MW
Multi string PC
15 year guarantee

-2012-11-07 Dempa
Heavy Snow Area Models  - Srong Racks

-2012-10-10 Dempa
New products
a) Corner modules
b) Modules with fixing metal parts, new installation method supporting by area not points

-2012--09-27 Dempa
New Product - Standard "See Thru" Cost JPY400,000/m² ---> JPY150,000/m² (including installation) in 2012
Existing Products - BLACKSOLAR for residential use
Sales - Industrial
Set up special purpose joint venture companies as IPP (Independent Power Producers) by renting a local government land

-2012-02-29 Dempa
Products
a) Residential - BLACKSOLAR  modules - Nodule efficiency 17%, "Roof fit Corner" modules
b) Industrial
i) Mono silicon - "See Trhu" for wall installation
ii) Thin film - 73MW power station; Wall installation

-2012-01-10  Dempa
President (Mr Katayama) interview
New market - New developing countries - high population, high sun light (Indonasia - 3 times higher than Germany), North Africa, Middle East
New Factory in Sicily,  Italy (Thin Film Cell) joint venture with Enel (http://www.sharp.vn/en/press_releases/11/sharp-enel-green-power-and-stmicroelectronics-make-joint-announcement-on-the-establishment-of-joint-ventures-for-production-of-thin-film-solar-cells-and-for-ipp-business.html)

-2011-07-28 Demp
Products
Standard types
165W, Module efficiency 14.3%
163W, Module efficiency 14.1%
156W, Module efficiency 13.5%
170W, Module efficiency 14.7%
Roof fit modules - 160W, 114W, 60.5W
Conditioners - 5 types Efficiency 94% , 3.4kW - 5.5kW
Tablet monitors

-2011--05-26 Dempa
Product
Custom design  "Roof Fit"
Back Contact - Production Cap Target 200MW (Sakai factory, Japan), module efficiency 14.3% --> 17% or more (cell 60pcs, 271W)
Installation technical centers (Nara, Tokyo) 10,000 installers/year. Custom design - 198,000 patters, CAD design center

-2009-07-01 Dempa
Sales
FY2009 forecast - 770MW

-2009-05-18 Dempa
Sales
FY 2008 Sales - JPY157,100,000 ,000 (JPY16,100,000,000 Loss)
FY2009 forecast - JPY190,000,000,000; 770MW
Production - Current 220MW ---> 600MW in 2011


6. Panasonic


-2014-04-11 Dempa

HIT cell efficiency reaches 25.6% by employing the back contact and some other improvements.


-2014-02-28 Dempa
 Malaysia factor6 600MW + 300MW in 2014.


-2013-07-17 Dempa
1) Total shipment 540MW in F/Y 2012.
HIT standard modules 240alpah, 245alpah, half module 120alpha, efficiency 24% develment, 22% at volume production. Own Power Conditioners top market share.
2) Shipped HIT modules  total 70KW to German Government Environment Office Building.

-2013-06-25 Dempa
Extended guasantee period from 10 years to 20 year  - HIT standard modules 240alpah, 245alpah, half module 120alpha,

 -2013-02-27 Dempa
Half modules HIT 116W/120W introduced.

-2013-02-13 Dempa
Efficiency of the new HIT module reached 24.7% (previous record 23.9%)  by
1) Reducing the carrier recombination loss
2) Reducing the optical loss
3) Reducing the resistive loss (by improvement of the grid electrodes)

-2012-12-14 Dempa
Malaysia Factory
HIT module - Production increase to 300MW.
Other factories 2 in Japan 1 in Hungary total 600MW
Systems solutions - Modules + PC + Batteries + Racks

-2012-11-29 Dempa
HIT Half Size modules 116/120
New Power Conditioers(2.7/4.0/5.5KW)


-2012--09-27 Dempa
Products
New Product - HIT module Max 240W
Modules + Power Conditioner, Power Monitor, Monitoring Adapter

-2012-01-30 Dempa
Production
Malaysia factory HIT Cell - 300MW/year - will start in Dec, 2012
Products
Mono - Hybrid (HIT) 230W Module efficiency 17.9%, Size 1580 x 812 x 35mm, 15kgs

-2011-09-28 Dempa
New prodcut
HIT230 - 230W Module efficiency 17.9%
Existing products
HIT215; Poly Silicon

-2011--05-26 Dempa
Product
Module Efficiency 17.9% (230W max) (1580 x 812 x35 in mm, 15Kgs)
Wireless power monitor (max 80 meter away)

-2010--06-30 Dempa
New Product - HIT215 (215W)


7. Hitachi Home Appliance

-2014-02-26 Dempa

Nodules outsourcing + Power conditioners. Industrial 250W module efficiency 15.6%. Residential 210W and half 105W modules.

-2013-09-18 Dempa    
The new 210W and half 105 W modules will be added  in late this year.
 -2013-07-10 Dempa
Aiming market share 5% in 2015.

-2013-06-19 Dempa
 Own brands - Panels  from Solar Frontier, Trina Solar.
Sales ID holders 2563, Installation ID Holder 1043 at the end of April, 2013.

 -2013-02-20 Dempa
Panels  from Solar Frontier (95W, 160W), Suntech Power (195W).
Sales ID holders 2400, Installation ID Holder 950 at the end of Jan, 2013
Power Conditioners -  4.0KW and 5.5JW


-2012-12-28 Dempa
Sales ID holders 2100, Installation ID Holder 700 at the end of Nov, 2012..
-2012--09-27 Dempa
Sales
Started "System Sales" in August, 2012.
Installers Education, Issuing Installer IDs - Advisers and Installer - 2,000 ID holders in two months
With Paid Maintenance Services (1st year, 5th year and 9th year -JPY92,760) , nodule guarantee 10 years ---> 20 years
Products
Cells - Out Sourcing
a) CIS type - 95W and 155W
b) Mono Silicon - 195W
Power conditioners - Self design and self made - 4.0KW and 5.5KW efficiency 96%


8. Solar Frontier (Showa Shell Petroleum Group)

 -2014-05-27 Dempa

New CIS  Thin Film Solar Cell - Solasis Neo. 6.5mm thick,40% lighter weight, 2.0mm cover glass, brings high degree of design.

-2014-04-24 Dempa

Collaboration with New York State of CIS Thin Film Solar Cell development and production in NY State investing JPY70,000 millions (US$700 millions) and expecting to create more than 1,000 people employment, which will increase the overseas sales (now less than 10%).
At the same time to set up a new and 4th factory of 150MW in Miyagi intending to reduce the production cost by 30%.

-2014-02-28 Dempa
New and 4th factory of 150MW in Miyagi in 2015, total production will be more than 1GW then.

-2014-02-26 Dempa

Solarsis Neo (CIS modules) - thin and light weight.

-2013-07-10 Dempa
Mega solar - Sunroty three factories - CIS module (28,000 panels) total 4.4MW
-2013-02-27 Dempa
Cross-One Installation Method to reduce
CIS module reached the efficiency 19.7%.

-2013-02-20 Dempa
Showa Shell
Kokufu Factory (Miyazaki) 900MW/Year
Cross-One Installation Method to reduce
CIS module reached the efficiency 19.7%.

-2012-12-04 Dempa
Package solution
Modules + PC + Racks + Monitor (Power measurement) - S Phone, PC monitor
10KW, 50KW
CIS Thin Film Technology

-2012-11-14 Dempa
Sales - Agents 250, Sub Agents (Installer) 3000
Production Capacity 1GW/year
Production in 2011 450MW

-2012-11-07 Dempa
New 2MW Power Generator at own and mother company (Showa Shell)  factory will become  totaling 7.3MW.

-2012--09-27 Dempa
Products
CIS (Copper - Indium - Selenium) Thin Film
Industrial and "Mega Solar" project
10kW, 20kW, 30kW, 40kW and 50kW as a system with conditioner, racks, monitor
Price: JPY15,000,000 - 25,000,000 (investment will be returned in 10 years by selling power)
Sales
2 Mega Solar projects in Miyazaki (Kyushyu) total 3.3MW staring in 2013

2012-02-29 Dempa
Products
CIS (Copper - Indium - Selenium) Thin Film - installation in Mid East Asia, Thailand for idustrial use

2012-01-30 Dempa
Production
900MW in Miayzaki started in 2011.
Sales - Market - Europe, India, Thailand, USA
Japan -  Sales agents - 170, Retails shops - 3,000


9. Canadian Solar Japan

-2014-02-28 Dempa
510MW sales in Japan in 2013 five fold of 2012. Expecting 650MW in 2014.

-2014-02-28 Dempa
Back Contact technology "ELPS" - mdel CS6A-215MM, Mono type cell efficiency 21.1%

-2013-03-15 Dempa
Sales in Sept -Dec 404MW but dropped by 38% in US$. as compared in 2011. The loss of this period reached US$150M.
-2013-02-27 Dempa
Back Contact Industrial model 265W, 21.1% (16.47% - module efficiency). Residential model 215W (module efficiency 16.54%). 100MW in FY2012 (Jan-Dec).

-2012--09-27 Dempa
Products
Industrial use "Sun Garden"  - 2 models 46.8kW and 49.92kW as a system with conditioner, racks, monitor in 660 - 990m² .
Market - Farmers, Unused land holders
Price - JPY15,000,000 - 18,000,000 (Investment will be returned in 8-9 years by selling power at JPY42/W) only the power conditioner shall change one in 10 years. Insurance is included.
Three market categories - i) 50kW or less, 2) 50kW - 2MW and 3) Mega Solar (which takes time to design, find appropriate land with near high voltage grid connection, etc)

2012-07-25 Dempa
Sales - Residential 70%, Sales agents and local small-mid size home builders
Will start "Sun Garden"  -  2 models 46.8kW and 49.92kW for industrial use from Aug, 2012- aiming 100MW in one year

-2012-02-29 Dempa
Products
a) Residential
Mono Silicon - Back contact 200W (existing modules 180W, 190W)
Industrial
Cell efficiency Mono 19.5%, Poly 18%
+ Installed 3 phase power conditioner

10. Greentech (Brand: XSOL) (Kyoto)

-2013-02-27 Dempa
XSIL RACK reduces the time and cost of installation by 25 - 75%.

-2012--09-27 Dempa
Products -  from Canadian Solar
50kW or less
Sales - as a maker, system integrator, supplier
Panel guarantee - 25 yeas
System guarantee - 10 years
50kW or less - not many regulations

-2012-02-29 Dempa
Products
New Residential use modules - Modules connected in Series; "4 in one"  Modules + Racks + Metal parts + Wires

11. Trina Solar, Trina Solar (China)

-2014-02-28 Dempa
Sales in Japan 30MW in 2012. 120-150MW in 2013.

-2014-01-22 Dempa

Sales in 2012 30MW in Japan. In F/Y 2013 will be 4-5 times more ans the marker share in Japan is aimed up to 8-9%. Out sales to Hitachi. Both Mono and Poly. "Trina Smart" monitoring system (technology from USA "Taigo Energy") has been introduced.

-2013-03-07 Dempa
Delivery reached 1.6GW in 2012. Japan sales 5%.

 -2012-11-28
July-Sept - Sales 380MW US$298M Loss US$57M, Stock value loss US$13.3M.

-2012-02-29 Dempa
Products
a) Poly Silicon "Honey" module 260W 15.9% (60 cells)
25 year guarantee, 10 year linear output guarantee
b) Mono Silicon "Quadmax" technology  210W 15.9% (60 cells)
Products made from Poly, Mono Silicon Ingots to Modules
Sales - World wide accumulated installation - 1.9GW by end of 2011

-2012-01-30 Dempa
Trina Solar Japan
Sales started in July, 2011
Direct Sales, House Builders, Trading Companies
Made to order or made according to the forecast from Sales Agents

-2012-07-28 Dempa
Starting sales in residential market in July, 2012.
Lecture (paid) on installation every Monday in Aichi pref. Issuing Installer ID
Sales
Sales agents, Home Builders, Trading companies.





12. Powercom Solar (Taiwan) established in in Taiwan in Nov 2009

-2012-02-29 Dempa
Products
Poly silicon modules made in Taiwan
Sales
Powercom Solar was established in Taiwan in Nov 2009. Started sales in Japan in Feb, 2010.
10 year system guarantee, 25 year Cell power output guarantee.

-2012-01-30 Dempa
Sales started in Feb, 2010
Residential - Agents - House Builders, House Reformers
Opened Solar Power Special shop in Tokyo in 2011.

Products
Poly silicon modules "SYSTINA" made in Taiwan



13. Kaneka
-2012-12-26
SOLTILEX and VISOLA with Anti-Glare (Cell Module embedded Roof Tiles)
Sales to 5 house makers.

-2012-11-28
Model 889 module passed JISQ8910

-2012-09-05 Dempa
New Product - Roof tile module with anti-reflection

-2011-07-28 Demp  
Products - Thin Film
Roof tile modules + Whole Roof type, Put-on Type
Production Capacity - 150MW in 2011

-2009-07-01 Dempa
Hybrid Thin Film Module Production forecast 150MW in 2010


13. Del Solar (Taiwan, Delta Group)
-2010-06-18 Dempa
Production started in Shinchiu, Taiwan in 2004, in Wujiang in Chuna in Feb, 1010.
Wujiang factory 280MW --> scheduled 360MW in 2011--> 1000MW in 2012
Cell Materials - Outsourcing, Conditioners - Self made


14. Sanyo (purchased by Panasonic)

Note
On December 21, 2009, Panasonic completed a 400 billion yen ($4.5 billion) acquisition of a 50.2% stake in Sanyo, making Sanyo a subsidiary of Panasonic. In July 2010, Panasonic announced that they would acquire the remaining shares of Sanyo. (wiki)

-2010-06-16 Dempa
Production
Will increase domestic HIT modules production to  290MW in two factories and two overseas facrories together up to 680MW.
Product - HIT N230 and Cell efficiency 21% N235W module by end of 2010.

-2009-07-01 Dempa
Cell Production forecast - 600MW in 2010

-2009-06-24 Dempa
HIT Cell Production
Shimane Factory -->  220MW in 2010
Osaka factory ---> 480MW in 2010

-2009-05-18 Dempa
FY 2008 Sales - JPY81,100,000 ,000 (domestic JPY22,400,000,000)
FY2009 forecast - JPY190,000,000,000.

-2008-06-26 Dempa
Products
HIT Solar Cells - High end market; Thin Film - Low and Meddle end markt
Sales in Europe
Started in 2002. Production in Hungary started in 2005


15. Yingli Green Energy Japan

-2014-05-27  Dempa

Daily shipment 6MW, No 1 in the world. Having shifted and expanded the market, from Europe to Japan,  Australia, South East Asia, Central-Sough America. Reached 3.2GW shipment in 2013 - 10% world market share.


-2014-02-28 Dempa
Sales in Japan 250MW in 2013 and will increase to over 500MW in 2014.

-2012-11-30 Dempa
Yingli Green Energy (China)
July-Sept big loss
Sales down 46.7% to US$355.9M, Loss US$152.6M
A large stock and its devaluation

 -2012-09-19 Dempa
Products
Panda 265, Mono Silicon 265W module efficiency 16.2%
Poly Silicon 250W and 290W module by end of 2012
Reliability - JISQ8901 approved
Sales
265W (Panda 265) x 2353 = 623kW System in Hokkaido in July 2012


16. Chyosyu Industrial

-2013-01-04 Dempa
Cooperation with Taiwan Topcell Solar International.
Residential module 275W with efficiency 18.5%.
First Mega-solar 3MW in its own headquarter.
-2012-12-04 Dempa
2009 - module production started
2010 - Wafer - Cell production started

17. Talesun Solar

-2013-08-22 Dempa
 Module sales + Power station construction  (25 year guarantee of power generation)

-2013-07-17 Dempa
Headquarter at Jiangsu China. Japan office in Tokyo opened in April,2013.
Production capacity: 3GW/year (full). Shipment last year 600MW (40% export)
Main product: Nominal power 255W model TP660P for Mega solar. Home use model 210W TP648M.
PID - Potential Induced Degradation Test passed

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17. JA Solar (China)
-2012-11-30 Dempa
July-Sept big loss
Sales down by 32.7% to US$206.9M, Loss US$59.1M



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Power companies

18. Kinden
-2012-11-30

Mega-solar 2 test plants - 1. 200KW, 2. 1,000KW (total 1,200KWh for 220 families)

19. Kyuden
-2012-11-28
Car park package (Panels from Japanese and foreign)
Modules + PC + Distribution + Racks standard 10KW - 15W. 140KW (84 car space)


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Trading Companies

20. Takashima
2012-01-09
Joint venture with Marubeni
Cell Supplier - JA Solar (World No.2)
+ system device = "Smile Solar"
Started sales in 2011 to local home builders in east Japan area around Tokyo with sales target of 40MW in 2014

21. Japan Ecosystem 
2013-02-13
"Roof Rent" Business.  Japan Ecosystem joined SOFT Bank's "Ouchi Hatsuden Project (Home Electric Power Generation Project". In this system (new business model) SOFT Bank rent roofs and sell electricity. The company uses Sharp products. After 20 years contract the solar system will be transferred in free to the roof owner.
2012-01-09
 Sales
Residential - Wholesaler of Solar cell systems
Suppliers - several large suppliers
Customers - System retail sellers

22. Greentech
-2011-07-28 Demp
Solar Energy System Builder, Integrator
Cell Suliers - Toshiba, Canadian Solar
Sales
Residential - as a wholesaler
Public and Industrial -  Solar Street Lamps, Sun Chasing System, Thin film amorphous, Solar Power Monitors
Emergency Solar Power System - 1170W cost JPY2,000,000 - 3,000,000.

23. Takebishi
Mega Solar projects  10-50KW

24. Hakuto

Started Model business in 2010, added PCs and Batteries and related products in 2011
Sales - JPY20,000M (in 2012) - Domestic, Shops, Factories
Products - Import of Foreign Maker products
Another sales comany - Roofs for domestic, Hakuto - Industrial and Commercial
Own Power stations - 2MW to sell power in 2013.Invetmnt JPY2000 - 2500M




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Power Conditioner makers
25. Sanwa Technos
26. Ikuta Electric 

27. Joshin Denki
-2012-12-05 Dempa
MPPT (Maximum Power Point Tracking)  Panel Efficiency Up Device (18 x 12 x 5cm)

-2012-11-14 Dempa
MPPT (Maximum Power Point Tracking)  Panel Efficiency Up (by 5%)  Device (18 x 12 x 5cm)
JPY12,000.

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Mega Solar Projects/Compnies

28. LIXIL
In Fukishima, 6.36MW in their own factory will strat generation in 2014 + in Yokusua (also their onw factory) in 98,000 sqm annual power generation 7,800MWh.

29. Core Tech + Sparks Group
-2013-02-06 Dempa
In Kumamoto, Kyushu. 240W module x 33,000 panels in 9.5 hectars (hectare is a metric unit of area defined as 10,000 square meters (100 m by 100 m)) 8MW + 12 sets of 500KW power conditioners. The cost JPY3,000M. The expected sales of electricity is JPY300M/year starting Dec, 2013.

30. SO-Play Solar (Japan)
-2012-12-26 Dempa
Solar Power Generation Station: Plan to build 14 stations of  1MW - 4MW total 20MW in Japan in 2013.
Using own panels. Production 350MW --> 600MW/year.

31. Suzuyo
-2012-12-26 Dempa
Chimizu-Bay MegaSolar Solar Power Generation Station:1.2MW (5400 panels, 8600sqm)
Panels from Kyocera and S-Energy.

32. ELNA
-2012-12-25 Dempa
2MW Station at its own factory. To sell Toholu Electric. Complete in autumn, 2013.

33. Noritsu
-2013-02-06Dempa
In Kobe 24,000 sqm in 2013.
-2012-12-05 Dempa
Solar Power Generation 1.2MW, 4,942 panels, 9475 sqm to sell Kansai Electric for 20 years

34. IDEC
-2012-12-03 Dempa
Solar Power Generation 4MW, 421,000anels, 100,000sqm to complete in March, 2014. Using wooden (not steel)  racks to reduce the cost. Total project cost will be JPY1,500M and annual sales of Electricity will be JPY220M.

35. Jupiter Telecom, Sumitomo, and other five companies
-2012-11-07 Dempa
 in Osaka 10MW to sell Kansai Electric

As so many projcts have been announced recently, this section cannot cover all of them and timely. Only big and technically special projects will be shown here (26-April-2013)

36. Asahi Glass
-2013-04-26 Dempa
4.2MW in Hyuogo pref. As the location is near the sea their own FRP material will be used as solar cell lacks.


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C. Technical issues

2012-09-27 Dempa
PID - Potential Induced Degradation

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D. Appendix

Taiwan Suppliers
-2008-06-26 Dempa

Wafers - SAS, Motech, MOI
Cells - Motech, Delsolar, Gintech, Solar Tech, Neo Solar, Mosel
Modules - Tynsolar, E-ton Solar
Thin Film - Sinosolar, Formosun, NanoWin, NexPOwer, Solar Tech

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For more information or inquiry please contact Solar Energy Division of Asnet Components Ltd (www.asnetcomp.com)

ASE

An easy way to understand the basic key function of Solar Cell

I have found a very good way to understand the basic key function (or phenomenon) of a Solar Cell. I have read some documents on the function (or phenomenon) of a Solar Cell in some books and some websites (some are good, some are not good or even wrong at least confusing). But I did not encounter my method so far.

To check Diode Voltage by a multimeter (my digital multimeter has this function) with the opposite direction of the +/- shown on the back side of the panel at not very bright place. My multimeter shows "----", which means more than the max checkable (about 2VDC). Then gradually give more light to the panel. The multimeter shows "2.1- 1.9V", which shows . And then further increase the light. It shows less and less values 1.8V -- 1.5V -- 1.2V -- and finally 0.00. This indicates the increasing light creates an increasing voltage at the PN junction opposite to the original PN junction voltage (under a little light condition). This is it. Very easy and you can easily guess what light does to the panel (Solar Cell). After I found this fact it was much easier for me to understand what the text books say like "the current in Solar cell is the reverse current." or "Internal Voltage Difference Creation", etc.


Solar Energy Division of Asnet Components Ltd (www.asnetcomp.com)

sptt

Epoxy Solar Cell Modules

Reliable Epoxy Solar Cell Modules (Panels) are now available from Solar Energy Division of Asnet Components Ltd (www.asnetcomp.com). Epoxy Solar Cell Modules can be used as a source of energy for small wattage applications, usually less than 1W.
As they are easy to make there are many suppliers in China. Most of them are small-mid size marketing oriented factories with little concern of quality. Not all of them are unreliable but not easy to find good suppliers. Be cautious.

1) Epoxy Solar Cell Modules (Panels) do not have a long life due to their nature - simple structure - Solar Cells + PCB + Epoxy with no particular materials and technology used for protecting the Cells inside.

2) Epoxy Solar Cell Modules (Panels) are not so efficient as a module (Module Efficiency) even they use good Cells since in Epoxy Modules no particular techniques are used for efficient absorption of light.

For more details, contact

Solar Energy Division of Asnet Components Ltd (www.asnetcomp.com)


SE - ACL