European solar cells in Japanese structures
Mitsubishi Chemical Corporation plans to incorporate Europe’s only flexible solar cells in their construction materials. This move comes as Japanese energy legislation tightens and companies look for more energy efficient solutions.
VHF-Technologies’ innovative solar cells, manufactured in Switzerland, are a mere 50 microns thick and potentially cheaper than their silicon crystalline counterparts. Their selling point: the weight of the solar panels can be spread across a building’s exterior, a major plus for structures with weak roof materials.
The revised Energy Conservation Law will also kick-in come April. Companies with over 1,500kl of energy usage will be obliged to report their consumption as a whole, and no longer just as individual offices and factories. This will enable the government to establish benchmarks and set medium and long-term energy target levels. Regulations will also extend to the commercial and household sectors.
With the Japan gearing up for an ‘eco’ society, Mitsubishi Chemical’s right to commercial exclusivity of VHF-Technologies’ solar panels is, no doubt, timely.
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