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Japan's Sharp sees bright future for solar power

by Staff Writers
Tokyo (AFP) Nov 29, 2007
Japan's Sharp Corp. announced Thursday a 200-million-dollar investment in solar cells as manufacturers compete for a slice of the burgeoning market for alternative energy products.

Sharp will spend about 22 billion yen on a 10-fold expansion in production of thin-film solar cells, which it said use only about one hundredth of the silicon raw material used in conventional crystalline solar cells.

They can be made more quickly and cheaply than conventional solar cells, and offer better power generation in hot regions, the Osaka-based company said in a statement.

The technology could be used in windows and on wall surfaces of homes and buildings in the future, and can generate electricity by day and illumination at night, it added.

Sharp's solar cell business has suffered from a shortage of silicon that has driven up prices of the raw material, prompting the company to seek ways to make the manufacturing process more efficient.

Rival firms such as Sanyo are also investing in solar power as they seek to tap growing interest in alternative energy amid sky-high oil prices and increasing demand for power in fast-expanding emerging nations.

Japan prides itself on being a leader in energy saving technology, a crucial area for the world's second largest economy which relies heavily on Middle East oil to power its factories, homes and offices.

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Rocklin Becomes The First ClimateSmart City
Rocklin CA (SPX) Nov 28, 2007
Joined by the Mayor, city staff, community leaders and local elementary school students, Pacific Gas and Electric Company today announced that the City of Rocklin, located in Placer County, is California's first municipality to officially enroll in the voluntary ClimateSmart program. By joining, the City of Rocklin will offset more than 1.6 million pounds of carbon dioxide every year or more than 4,600 pounds every day. The ClimateSmart program enables customers to voluntarily neutralize greenhouse gas emissions associated with their energy use.







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