Mitsubishi Chemical pushes flexible thin film solar cells

Mitsubishi Chemical, Japan's maker of packaging materials, decided to introduce flexible thin-film solar cells in fiscal year 2012 (April 2012 to March 2013), mainly for the packaging material market. In addition, Mitsubishi Chemical also decided to trial production of organic thin film solar cells since 2013.

Mitsubishi Chemical dispatches amorphous silicon solar cells to VHF-Technologies, a Swiss solar cell plant that participated in the investment, and processes at the Yokkaichi Plant established in Mie Prefecture. The solar cells are combined with a transparent resin film to add bendable properties that can be set at window edges, etc. position.

Amorphous silicon solar cells generate less power than crystalline silicon solar cells, but due to their lightweight and flexible nature, they can be installed in eaves and so on. Mitsubishi Chemical used Mitsubishi Plastics' aluminum resin composite board technology in 2011 to launch solar battery products that combine building materials and can be used directly as a wall in high-rise buildings. At present, Fuji City, Shizuoka Prefecture has used this solar building material.

In addition, Mitsubishi Chemical also launched the field of organic thin-film solar cells. It will set up a pilot plant in fiscal year 2012. The fiscal year 2013 will be for builders and auto makers. Mitsubishi Chemical Holdings believes that the prospects for solar cell business can be expected to reach 2015 fiscal year. The turnover reached 50 billion yen (about 606 million U.S. dollars).