News Article
Solar Frontier suspends production at CIS MP2 facility
The firm is putting more resources into its copper, indium, selenium plant in Kunitomi
Solar Frontier will suspend production at its 60MW “MP2” solar module manufacturing plant as its 900 MW flagship Kunitomi plant continues to demonstrate improved performance.
The company is evaluating the role MP2 will play in opportunities to produce CIS solar products that are currently in development. The Kunitomi plant commenced commercial production in February 2011 and all lines at the plant were operational by July 2011.
The advanced plant now produces CIS solar modules with efficiencies in the 13 to 14 percent range, delivering more kilowatt-hours per Watt than competing technologies.
The MP2 plant, which provided much of the knowledge base for the design efficiencies of Solar Frontier’s Kunitomi plant, has operated since 2009. The MP2 facility is currently being evaluated for future opportunities to produce specialised solar modules being developed at Solar Frontier’s Atsugi Research Centre for new and unique applications. Employees will transfer their skills from MP2 to the Kunitomi plant and to sales engineering roles.
“Solar Frontier’s staff at the MP2 plant have done a tremendous job for the company,” says Shigeaki Kameda, President of Solar Frontier. “They are a great resource of knowledge and expertise that will continue to help Solar Frontier grow. The Kunitomi plant is the largest solar module manufacturing facility in Japan, and Solar Frontier is the only solar panel manufacturer in the world with production exclusively in Japan. And with the heightened demand for solar in Japan, Solar Frontier is extremely well positioned with its combination of local manufacturing and skilled staff. Solar Frontier offers unique and significant advantages with made-in-Japan quality the world has come to trust.”
“The knowledge base we have in our MP2 staff will contribute to Solar Frontier’s progress beyond R&D and manufacturing,” adds Atsuhiko Hirano, Solar Frontier Senior Vice President. “Solar Frontier is expanding on its leadership in the downstream market as part of its mission to deliver the most economical, ecological solar energy solutions on Earth.”
