Photovoltaic news and pv jobs

Kaneka increases production capacity by 80 MW

Japan-based Kaneka Solartech Co., Ltd. has completed the expansion of its thin film photovoltaics facilities by 80 megawatts (MW), thus bringing its annual production total to 150 MW. Meanwhile, the company says it is looking to further expand its solar energy operations.

The company want to gain a bigger Japanese market share. Image: Kaneka.

Following the expansion, Kaneka has said that production in the facility is due to start this month.

In a statement, the company commented: “Through operation of our expanded facilities, we will step up efforts to provide high quality and highly reliable products in fields where we can put the special features of our thin-film photovoltaic cells to work. Our goal is to further expand our solar energy business, garnering at least a 10 percent share of the domestic market by 2012.”

Various technologies have been incorporated into the new facilities, including: thin-film manufacturing devices, developed in-house; proprietary thin-film manufacturing technology; and manufacturing process innovations based on lower material costs and larger substrate area.