Sanyo is in the news today, and again it’s about the company’s green tech power. The company today announced [JP] it will do everything to become Japan’s top player in the domestic solar industry by 2012 and eventually one of the top three solar companies on a global level. At the same time, the Nikkei reports [registration required, paid subscription] that Sanyo has succeeded in developing a solar cell that’s thinner than a human hair.
The company says it will benefit greatly from a new feed-in tariff program by the Japanese government introduced this month for green energy firms. Another factor for Sanyo’s self-confidence should be the speed with which it innovates. Their new prototype solar cell is just 58 micrometers thick, about one-fourth of most solar cells currently out there. (Sorry, there’s no picture available yet)
It’s made of two types of silicon whose structure Sanyo optimized to achieve a conversion efficiency of 22%. It’s said to be as bendable as paper, meaning it can be used for a variety of purposes, for example on uneven surfaces.
Sanyo says this technology might help reduce prices by as much as 25% when compared to solar cells available today. The company wants to commercialize the solar cells by 2020.
Wow, going to market in only 11 years? Way to raise the bar guys. There is something seriously wrong with our system when it takes 11 years to get a solar panel to market.
Google should get into the the solar business and fuck the curve up for everyone by making it FREE!
Better still Apple could get into the market: triple the prices and make them only compatible with a proprietary iHouse powersystem. Just think beautiful white solar panels on every roof :o)
This is BAD!!!
Ilegal Advertisement!
TechCrunch this is BAD BAD BAD!!!
2020!!!!!!!!!!!! Product release! Really???????
This is not NEWS! This is something more sinister than anal rape! This is like eating poop.
Lets hear about real news please! something nearly 12+ years from release should not be listed on this site!
Just tell us all to buy Sanyo….alot easier.
SHOULD THIS AD BE ALLOWED?