Originally published February 7 2006
Honda developing more efficient solar cell that produces less emissions during production
by Mike Adams, the Health Ranger, NaturalNews Editor
Solar power is one of the leaders when it comes to renewable energy choices, but there is still CO2 emitted during the production of the photovoltaic cells, but Honda is developing a thin-film solar cell composed of non-silicon compound materials, so it requires 50 percent less energy to produce, and thus generates 50 percent less CO2 during production.
Honda Motor Co., Ltd. is to begin mass production in 2007, of an independently developed thin film solar cell composed of non-silicon compound materials, which requires 50% less energy, and thus generate 50% less CO2, during production compared to a conventional solar cell.
A mass production plant with annual capacity of 27.5 Megawatts will be established at Honda's Kumamoto factory.
Honda will produce and sell solar panels in a limited area, starting from 2006 fall.
By using thin film made from a compound of copper, indium, gallium and selenium, next-generation solar cell achieves a major reduction in energy consumed during the manufacturing process to approximately 50% of the amount required by conventional crystal silicon solar cells.
Thus, this new solar cell is more environmentally-friendly by reducing the amount of CO2 even from the production stage.
The next-generation solar cell has achieved the highest level of photoelectric transfer efficiency for a thin film solar cell, almost equivalent to the conventional crystal silicon solar cell.
Achieving lower costs and higher photoelectric transfer efficiency is required in order to expand use of solar cells which will help protect the global environment.
Honda says non-silicon thin film solar cells have been attracting significant attention as a potential solution to these challenges.
The only remaining challenges were the stabilization of performance and development of mass production technologies.
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