The company further enhances its industry-leading production techniques by applying its expertise in monocrystalline and multicrystalline modules
Kyocera Corporation announced its first commercialized monocrystalline silicon solar modules, which it will begin fully supplying for the Japanese residential market in April.
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| Kyocera’s monocrystalline silicon solar modules. |
In the Japanese residential market, there is strong demand for high-output solar modules in order to generate electricity efficiently on limited rooftop spaces. In an effort to respond to these needs, Kyocera has been conducting R&D in monocrystalline solar modules, which feature higher power generation efficiency compared with multicrystalline modules, and plans to raise the conversion efficiency of its monocrystalline cells from 19% to more than 22% within the next few years. Having established the technology to ensure high quality and long-term reliability, the company will begin fully supplying monocrystalline modules in addition to its current multicrystalline modules.
In addition, Kyocera has succeeded in developing multicrystalline silicon solar cells with a conversion efficiency of 18.6%, exceeding the company’s record (17.8%) by 0.8%. The company began the world’s first mass production of multicrystalline silicon solar cells in 1982, and in December 2011 achieved a conversion efficiency of 17.8%, an industry record at that time. The new conversion efficiency of 18.6% was achieved through the enhancement of crystal quality, improvement in the electrode process and reduction of carrier recombination. Sales of the further enhanced multicrystalline silicon solar cells will commence this summer in Japan.
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| Multicrystalline silicon solar cells manufactured by Kyocera. |
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| Development in conversion efficiency of Kyocera’s multicrystalline silicon solar cells. |
Kyocera will become the only company carrying out mass production of both monocrystalline and multicrystalline solar modules from the manufacture of cells in Japan. The new modules will allow the company to further meet customer needs and enhance production techniques by applying its expertise between monocrystalline and multicrystalline module productions.
