IHI Corporation to Deploy 1366 Technologies’ Direct Wafers in New Solar Installations
April 9, 2015 | By Business Wire News
BEDFORD, Mass. & TOKYO
1366 Technologies today announced that IHI Corporation, through its wholly-owned subsidiary, IHI Plant Construction Co., Ltd, will use the company’s Direct Wafers® in two new solar installations in Japan. The projects lay the foundation for a long-term partnership between the two companies, in which 1366 supplies IHI, a global solar project developer, EPC contractor and operator, with PV modules incorporating Direct Wafers. 1366 will manage the module procurement process.
“Our partnership with IHI demonstrates that the appeal of Direct Wafer extends downstream to global project developers who want to deliver high efficiency, high quality systems with lower technology costs,” said Frank van Mierlo, CEO, 1366 Technologies. “These installations are an important stepping stone on the path to commercial scale manufacturing. We’re extremely proud that IHI adopted our technology for these projects; it’s truly exciting to have modules in the field.”
“IHI intends to expand its portfolio of photovoltaic systems with innovative technologies that promise to dramatically reduce cost and improve efficiencies,” said Yukiya Nakagawa, Advisor, IHI Corporation. “The value proposition of 1366’s technology is clear and compelling not only in the short-term with traditional installation settings but also in the long-term as we explore installations where space is restricted and the value of efficiency even higher.”
The two companies celebrated the completion of the first 20-module installation, which is also 1366’s first Direct Wafer test site, with a ribbon cutting ceremony on February 26th. “We’ll break ground on the second power generation system, a 1 MW project, immediately following the 20-module field test,” said Osamu Sasagawa, Managing Director, IHI Plant Construction.
1366 Technologies’ Direct Wafer™ forms multi-crystalline wafers directly from molten silicon instead of today’s multi-step, energy- and capital-intensive process. The result is a uniformly better wafer, created at one-half the cost. The technology also has the enormous benefit of being a “drop-in” replacement for 60 percent of the photovoltaics market, making it seamless for cell and panel manufacturers to readily adopt the technology without adding a single new piece of equipment.
About 1366 Technologies
1366 Technologies aims to deliver solar at the cost of coal. The company combines breakthrough technology innovations with lean manufacturing processes to make a new class of silicon wafers, the building blocks of solar cells, at a fraction of today’s cost. Developed by a veteran team of scientists, engineers and entrepreneurs, the company’s novel approach breaks the historic efficiency and cost tradeoffs of photovoltaics. 1366 Technologies is headquartered in Bedford, MA. For more information, please visit www.1366tech.com.
About IHI Corporation
IHI (TYO:7013), established in 1853, is a multi-national leader in providing energy and chemical plants, physical distribution systems and steel structures, aero-engine and space technology, industrial machinery, shipbuilding and marine engineering, and mass-produced machinery. With annual net sales of nearly $14 billion (U.S. dollars) and more than 24,000 employees, IHI contributes to the stable supply of electric power by providing the primary equipment for hydroelectric, thermal and nuclear power systems. In automotive industries, IHI supplies turbo chargers for automobiles and trucks, and manufacturing equipment. www.ihi.co.jp
For IHI Plant Construction Co., Ltd
Makoto Kobayashi, (+81)-3-4553-1033
makoto_kobayashi_1@ipc.ihi.co.jp
or
For 1366 Technologies
Laureen Sanderson, 617-694-7336
lsanderson@tieronepr.com
