Special Feature 【Chemistry】
The Mitsui Chemicals Group is United in Its Commitment to Increase the Adoption of Solar-cell Materials
Solar power is one of the most recognized types of clean energy. At the 2008 Hokkaido Toyako Summit, Japan’s then-Prime Minister Yasuo Fukuda announced Japan’s target of increasing the country’s adoption of solar power 10-fold from current levels by 2020, and 40-fold by 2030. In the United States as well, President Barack Obama is strengthening the country’s commitment to solar power as one part of his presidency’s “ Green New Deal.” Solar power generation requires solar cells. At Mitsui Chemicals, we are working to spread the adoption of clean energy through the development of a wide range of materials essential for solar cells.
Market forecast for solar cells
We Have a Large Share of the Market for Materials Helping the Penetration of Solar Cells
Although the main raw materials of most solar cells are currently crystal silicon, manufacturers have recently begun focusing their efforts on improving the performance of thin-film-based solar cells, in order to reduce the cost of power generated by them.
We offer a wide range of materials for solar cells. For example, our subsidiary Mitsui Chemicals Fabro offers a photo voltaic solar module encapsulating sheet named SOLAREVATM. This material is sandwiched between the cells that convert sunlight into electrical energy, and the surface glass and back sheet. This material must be adhesive and transparent, and flexible in order to prevent cells from cracking.
We produce 9,000 tons of SOLAREVATM per year.
This makes us one of the top suppliers in the world, with a 30% share of the global market. In 2009, we have built the capability to respond to increased adoption of clean energy, while increasing our production volume to 20,000 tons and solidifying our position as a global leader in this field.
We have a unique presence in the production of such rare gases as monosilane gas, which is used in thin-film cell manufacturing processes, and NF3 gas, which is used to clean equipment. Special gases are extremely effective at conserving resources. Vapor deposition, which forms a thin silicon film by applying monosilane gas to the substrate surface, uses about 1/100 the silicon as creating silicon substrates by slicing polysilicon.
In September 2008, in order to manufacture monosilane gas more efficiently Mitsui Chemicals entered an agreement with Tokuyama Corporation to jointly develop a new process for the manufacture of monosilane gas. Tokuyama Corporation has a wealth of technologies for the manufacture of silicon raw materials,including polysilicon for semiconductors. We plan to begin joint production around 2012.
We offer other materials for solar cells as well: Mitsui Chemicals Polyurethanes offers the back-sheet adhesives TakelacTM and TakenateTM (approximately 80% share of the Japanese market), and Mitsui Chemicals offers such materials as MITSUI EPT and MILASTOMERTM, which are gasket materials for preventing the infiltration of water into solar-cell panels.
Solar Cell & Battery ComponentsDevelopment Department is New “ General HQ” for Solar Cells
Solar cells must be very durable, with a lifetime of 20 years. For this reason, the materials used in solar cells must maintain stable quality for long periods of time. Mitsui Chemicals’ products have earned great trust from manufacturers and users because they carry the lineage of a long record of proven technologies. One example is our product SOLAREVATM, which has a 25-year track record in the market.
Traditionally, our various business divisions and subsidiaries have independently manufactured and sold each of our materials. Although this aspect will remain unchanged in August 2008 we created the Solar Cell & BatteryComponents Development Department out of our belief that the Mitsui Chemicals Group as a whole must advance the adoption of environmentally friendly products, especially solar cells. This new department could be called the “ General HQ” for businesses relating to solar-cell materials in the Mitsui Chemicals Group. The department currently has a staff of about 20 people in total, including employees assigned there part-time.
Tomoya Terauchi is the Manager of the department who has been involved with the department since the preparatory stages. “ Many of our competitors are coming out with solar cells, because they make a large contribution to the environment, and they are expected to be a growth field,” he says. “We are working urgently to create an overall strategy for the presence that the Mitsui Chemicals Group should harness,” he continues. For the current Mid-term Business Plan, our goal is to increase the Mitsui Chemicals Group’s net sales from solar cells related business from 8 billion yen in 2008 to 20 billion yen in 2011.
“ Developing materials for solar cells is an extremely motivating and fulfilling job, because it lets us leave a bright future for our children. We also want to expand our initiatives, collecting information about clean energy in general, such as wind power,” says Terauchi, revealing his passion for the field.
Members of the Solar Cell & Battery Components Development Dep.
Solar Cell & Battery Components Development Dep.
Business Planning & Development Div.
Performance Materials Business Sector
Manager
Tomoya Terauchi
Mitsui Chemicals’ solar cell materials
