Gains Mark Shipments of Solar Cell Modules

摘要

Japan is shipping more and more solar cell modules each year. According to the Japan Photovoltaic Energy Association (JPEA), shipments of solar cell modules last year reached about 820MW, up 39.4 percent from 2004. Exports were particularly strong, hitting 528MW, up 65.7 percent from year-ago level. Amid the dwindling supply of the solar cell material silicon, manufacturers are stepping up production of modules as demand continues to swell. Sharp Corp. for instance plans to invest ¥7 billion in FY2006 to expand its solar cell module production capacity in response to the growing requirement for photovoltaic power generation systems. The company also aims to increase in FY2006 the consolidated sales of its solar cell business by 33.3 percent to ¥200 billion. Meanwhile, to cope with the shortage in silicon material, Sharp will enhance the systems' conversion efficiency and increase production of thin-film solar cells that require less silicon materials.