Sharp to Launch High Efficiency Solar Cells
05 June 2008
Tokyo, June 4, 2008 (Jiji Press) - Sharp Corp. said Wednesday that it is set to launch residential polycrystalline solar cell panels with what the firm claims to be the industry''s highest solar-to-electric conversion rate. The new product, Sunvista, will be released on June 18, coming in five models. The solar panels can cut losses in power collection as they have three main electrodes compared with two in conventional products. The electrodes are thinner so that the surface of the panels to absorb light are expanded, while low-reflection glass is used for the panels. As a result, the most efficient model boasts a conversion rate of 14.4 pct, better than 13.7 pct for a Kyocera Corp. product, which represents the highest rate at present. The conversion rates for the four other models range from 10.1 pct to 13.9 pct. The panels are likely to retail at between 46,410 yen and 99,330 yen per unit. Sharp aims to produce 17,000 units per month.
HSBC HQ Goes Solar
05 June 2008
As part of its $90 million Global Environmental Efficiency Program launched last year, HSBC Canary Wharf office tower has become the tallest corporate headquarter building in Europe to feature solar panels. Covering 17,000 square meters of the roof of the building, it is also the largest installation of photovoltaic panels on a corporate office in London, the company announced. The company says it expects the array to generate more than 1.5 million kwh of electricity over the building lease or enough energy to power 20 UK homes per year. HSBC also announced that it has decreased its energy consumption at its headquarters by seven percent, or 20 percent per full-time employee since 2004. HSBC expects to save another three percent of its total energy consumption at its global headquarters over the next two years through energy efficient measures including improving the efficiency of the buildings air conditioning system.