TOKYO -- In response to growing demand for its NoWarp photovoltaic wire (solder-plated rectangular wire) used in solar cell module conductors, Hitachi Cable says it will introduce new production equipment at Hitachi Cable (Johor) Sdn. Bhd. of Malaysia, a new production facility to take its place alongside Hitachi Cable Fine-Tech, Ltd. and Hitachi Cable (Suzhou) Co., Ltd.
In solar cell modules, photovoltaic wire connects the individual cells that make up a solar cell, serving as a conductor that collects the electric power generated. Via wire-rolling, wiredrawing, and plating technologies accumulated during years of producing a wide range of wires and cables, Hitachi Cable launched production of photovoltaic wire in 2000. Today, it sells photovoltaic wire under the NoWarp brand name.
According to Hitachi, representing the mainstream in solar cell modules, crystalline silicon solar cells have been made slimmer in recent years for increased production efficiency. In thinner cells, however, the individual cells are more susceptible to the thermal stress generated when connected to photovoltaic wires, which sometimes results in warp. Photovoltaic wires must be flexible enough to absorb this thermal stress and to resist cell warp.
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Hitachi Cable's efforts to optimize thermal processing conditions have, it says, won NoWarp photovoltaic wire high marks for achieving flexibility while maintaining high electrical conductivity. This wire currently holds a roughly 20% share of the world's photovoltaic wire market, claims the company.
Hitachi Cable maintains that growing interest in energy conservation and efforts to prevent global warming have led to anticipated annual growth rates for solar cell module output capacity averaging 22%. By 2015, the corresponding market is projected to grow to roughly 3.3 times in its size in 2009. This anticipated demand has energized the production of solar cell modules around the world, as existing module makers seek to expand production and a succession of new parties venture into the market. This trend has been accompanied by growing demand for photovoltaic wire, creating a need to develop supply structures across a broad regional basis.
Investing roughly 500 million yen, Hitachi Cable has decided to introduce production equipment at Hitachi Cable (Johor) of Malaysia, making it a new production facility for photovoltaic wire. Full-scale production operations are slated to get underway in August 2010.
By establishing this new production facility in addition to existing facilities in Japan and China, the Hitachi Cable Group is seeking to expand net sales of wiring materials for solar cell use--primarily NoWarp products--from approximately 4 billion yen in fiscal 2009 to 9 billion yen in fiscal 2012. Plans call for regionally optimized production as well as future enhancements in new product development and production capabilities.
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