Shell to build world's largest solar panel plant

Showa Shell Oil in 2011 invested more than 100 billion yen (about $ 930 million), the construction of the world's largest solar panel plant, estimated annual production capacity of up to 1,000 megawatts (MWp), equivalent to a nuclear power plant generating capacity . Nihon Keizai Shimbun reported that the Japanese government put forward in view of the installation of solar panels on the family grant program, will drive market demand, Shell plans to set up factories optimistic about solar panels, will be expected to make the company's addition to oil, the excess is another new Lee source. However, the company immediately after the disclosure of the message denied this claim.

    Shell is currently a plant in Miyazaki solar panels for sale plant, the Department of copper, indium and other metal compounds manufactured, annual production capacity of 20MWp, is expected to start operation in June 2009 Miyazaki two factories, annual production capacity is expected to 60MWp. Japanese media pointed out, Shell expects 100 billion yen bets new plant, settled land may elect in Japan, Europe, Middle East, among which three one, the company will be decided in 2009 to set up factories in town.

    This means that there are solar companies, Shell in 2006 to sell its traditional crystalline silicon solar cell production to give Solarworld, turn into the thin-film solar field, presumably that is considered the main crystalline silicon solar nearly two years will be well received by the pain of the polysilicon shortage, thus bet the more long-term development opportunities copper indium gallium selenide (CIGS) thin-film Photovoltaic Panels  Shell live in traditional and renewable energy provider perspective, it should be optimistic about the thin-film solar energy in the solar power market is the most potential to compete with conventional electricity, therefore, will vigorously develop the CIGS thin film solar.

    Currently area CIGS conversion efficiency can be divided into five-inch small-size panels of about 18 to 19%, 5-inch large-size panel conversion efficiency of about 10%, the main production plant in addition to CIGS Japan Shell, and Honda, and the well-known international CIGS plant In Nonosolar mainly in June when it announced plans annual production capacity is also planning to 1,000 MWp.

As optimistic about its conversion efficiency development of space, this year has been a number of solar manufacturers are actively developing and investing, then CIGS production yield big challenge, but also the most interested party has invested heavily in the short term not the main reason. Experts believe that, CIGS most important observation point that is in 2009 the total market share of the number of solar photovoltaic confirm whether the volume and capacity increased simultaneously, we can see CIGS has been successfully commercialized.