Honda Soltec Co., Ltd., Honda’s (NYSE: HMC) wholly-owned solar cell subsidiary, opened a thin-film solar cell plant last month that the company says will required 50% less energy for production than conventional crystal silicon solar cells.
Using thin film made from a compound of copper, indium, gallium and selenium (CIGS) instead of silicon, Honda says the next-generation solar cell provides environmental benefits not only during its life-cycle but during production as well.
Honda Soltec began mass production in October, and expects annual production will reach full capacity of 27.5 megawatts by next spring. The company has also begun sales of solar cells for homes throughout Japan with 80 distributor locations and plans to accelerate sales by increasing the number of distributor locations to more than 200 within 2008.
Honda will also work to begin exports of Honda solar cells from its new operation based in Kumamoto.
In addition to solar cells, Honda says it is also developing technology to produce ethanol from cellulose, as well as fuel cell vehicles and household cogeneration units for sale in Japan and the U.S.
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