Hitachi America Ltd. signs Cooperation Agreement with Prism Solar Technologies, Inc. / プレスリリース(米で展開する日立に両面受光太陽電池）

" Hitachi America Ltd. (Hitachi) has signed a Cooperation Agreement with Prism Solar Technologies, Inc. (PST). Under the agreement PST will market Hitachi’s proprietary bifacial photovoltaic (PV) cells and manufacture modules for sale under the Hitachi brand name in the US to key clients and customers groups.

Hitachi manufacturers a unique “bifacial” PV cell as well as several bifacial module styles. This project represents an expansion into new markets for Hitachi’s solar products. Both companies have similar views of what needs to happen in technology and the marketplace to keep PV a growing and sustainable business sector.While most of the PV module manufacturers use monofacial PV cells in their modules, Hitachi has developed a unique high-efficiency cell that can produce power from both the back and front sides of the PV cell. The amount of power produced from the back-side is dependant on the amount and method of getting sunlight onto the back of the solar cell or module. Until recently, options to accomplish this have been limited to using mirrors or reflectors. New optics and technologies being developed separately by the two companies are providing exciting opportunities to gain improved power production from solar cells. "

----- Prism Solar Technologies,November 17, 2006

関連記事
・Hitachi America Ltd. Signs Agreement with Prism Solar Technologies -----Renewable Energy News,2006/11/23

関連エントリー
・垂直設置で発電量を稼ぐ、日立の”両面太陽電池”-----ソフトエネルギー、February 04, 2005

関連サイト
・両面受光太陽電池（日立）

コメント

　“bifacial” PV cellという考え方は、日立だけでなく、かつては数社あったように記憶してます。しかし、現状では、両面受光太陽電池セルということでは日立の今後の活躍しだいということです。今回の米Prism Solar Technologiesとの提携により、北米市場に乗り出すこととなります。垂直設置という方向で行くのか、ちょっと楽しみな太陽電池です。それとも、、奇抜なビルのデザインや、応用事例をアメリカならではのアイディアで展開していくのでしょうか？ (t_t)