May 26, 2006
Kanematsu Corporation recently acquired the production know-how and related trademark rights to coating material for flexible solar cells from the company that developed the product. Up to now, this company has been producing and selling this product through Kanematsu as the sales agent, but Kanematsu will be producing and selling it directly from June 1 of this year.
Since 1996, Kanematsu has been exporting coating material for flexible solar cells from Japan to the United States for use by United Solar Ovonic (see below), one of the world’s leading makers of solar power systems. However, in response to the sharp rise in demand for solar power systems in the United States, the Company has decided to directly undertake production of FINEHARD HARDCOAT coating material (which is an essential component of flexible solar cells), and to increase production capacity. Thanks to the unique production technology and selection of raw materials used to make FINEHARD HARDCOAT, it is the ideal coating material for flexible solar cells.
United Solar Ovonic’s solar power systems generate one of the world’s highest volumes of electric power per day. Renowned for its light weight and flexibility, the flexible solar battery charger material has a wide range of applications, including for mobile equipment.
The total battery capacity of flexible solar cells in the United States (in terms of generation capacity) is currently approximately 25 megawatts per year. This figure is projected to rise to 50 MW by the end of this year, and to 300 MW by 2010. Against the background of high oil prices and plans to phase out nuclear power generation in certain European countries, demand for alternative energy sources such as solar power, which has the additional merit of being “clean” (safe and environmentally friendly), is expected to continue growing steadily.
United Solar Ovonic is planning to build a production plant in the city of Tianjin in China, in a joint venture with a local company, as it sees demand for solar power generation systems in China rising strongly in the near future, especially given positive factors like the 2008 Beijing Olympics.
Kanematsu, which has been handling FINEHARD HARCOAT coating material as a sales agent for the past 10 years, is confident of its ability to meet all demand for the material from makers of flexible solar cells in the U.S., and it is for this reason that the Company has decided to go ahead with the plan to produce and sell the material itself. This new venture into the production of coating material for flexible solar cells will also contribute toward the effort to curb emissions of carbon dioxide and thus retard the progress of global warming.
Kanematsu Corporation is projecting an average monthly production volume of FINEHARD HARDCOAT of 7-10 tons in the first year of operation, with sales seen at \1 billion per annum in five years’ time.
Related reference material:
United Solar Ovonic:
Established:1990
3800 Lapeer Road
Auburn Hills, MI 48326