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News Release
Introducing Amorphous-Silicon Solar Cells

October 1,2004
Fuji Electric Systems Co., Ltd.

Fuji Electric Systems Co., Ltd. (President and CEO: Haruo Ito, hereafter Fuji Electric Systems) has begun selling amorphous-silicon solar cells using plastic film. As Fuji Electric Systems has channeled its efforts into new energy and energy-conservation projects as part of "Environment Management," the Group's promoting operation structure, it positions this type of solar cell as a key strategic model contributing to the company's environmental efforts and will fully enter solar cells market going forward.
Fuji Electric Advanced Technology Co., Ltd. (President and CEO: Koichi Harashima) has developed this product with a plastic film substrate. The adoption of plastic film allowed it features of "light" and "flexible" that the conventional solar cell module couldn't have had, now realizing lightweight and well-designed amorphous-silicon solar cells for its large size.
This solar cell module can be applied in various usages, leveraging the following features:
First, so-called "thin-film solar cell module," a solar cell module using plastic film substrate, is 1 mm thick and weighs approximately 1 kg per square meters and has the advantages of being "light" and "flexible," the features that the conventional module using glass on top could not have realized. It is quite understandable that this solar cell deserves to be named as "power generating film." It will be introduced step by step into business markets where the benefits of this film type solar cell can be leveraged, including energy-saving device, independent power source for mobile use, and rooftop of water reservoir pond at water purification plants.
Another type applied to thin-film solar cell module is so-called "steel plate integrated module," solar cells integrated with steel roof panel, can be used for installation of large-sized metal rooftops of factories, gymnasiums and other public facilities. Since this module has no impact on buildings due to its lightness and can be fitted on any curved surfaces, it suits for the application of "power generating roof."
Annual capacity will start from 3 MW to begin with and thereafter increase accordingly.

1. Features
1) Lightweight: Film type solar cell module weighs 1 kg per square meters, enabling a tenth lighter than the conventional model.
2) Flexible: With glass-uncovered structure, the panel can be installed at any curved surfaces and has superiority on design.
3) High output voltage: With the adoption of its original system of serial connection, the solar cells can easily get high output voltage that are directly connectable to inverter. This enables all external connection between solar cells in parallel, improving reliability of the system.
4) Increased annual power generation: As amorphous-silicon solar cells have low temperature coefficient, this will not reduce their efficiency in summer, and those can produce annual power generation approximately 10 percent more than silicon crystal type of cells under the same condition. (according to the in-house survey)
5) Less production energy: Compared to the conventional silicon crystal type solar cells, amorphous-silicon solar cells do require less energy consumption for production and, thus being eco-friendly solar cells.
2. Line-up
1) Solar cells using plastic film (application areas will be explored accordingly)
Uses: For power source for energy-saving devices, independent power unit, power generator for disaster-prevention, cell-phone rechargeable battery and others
Various applications are possible because plastic film-used solar cell module enables to form serial and parallel connection based on a 12W unit or sub-module.
Per-unit (sub-module) Specifications:
Nominal maximum output: 12W
Nominal maximum output voltage: 80VDC
Nominal maximum output current: 0.15A
Dimension: 0.24m X 0.87m, Weight: 0.2kg
2) Solar cells integrated with steel roof panel
Uses: For large-scale metal roofing top
Specs on module:

Nominal maximum output: 96W
Nominal maximum output voltage: 320VDC
Nominal maximum output current: 0.3A
Dimension: 0.5m X 4m, Weight: 16kg (incl. steel plate)
3. Product Release
Beginning on October 1, 2004
4. Sales Price
Quotation will be offered on type-by-type basis as the price of each model differs.
5. Development Plan
We will continue our research and development efforts for further cost reduction and efficiency improvement. Also, we will promote development of additional applications where we can leverage our strength in lightweight and flexibility technologies.
6. Inquiry
Fuji Electric Systems Co., Ltd.
e-Solution Engineering Group,
Marketing and Engineering Dept., Energy Solutions Div.
TEL: +81-3-3515-7761
FAX: +81-3-3515-7765