Creating the most
economical, ecological
solar energy solutions on earth
Energy that makes sense
Solar Frontier's mission is to create the most economical, ecological solar energy solutions in the world, on the world's largest scale. Our "CIS" technology, denoting key ingredients copper, indium and selenium (together with gallium and sulfur), has the best potential to set the world's most enduring standard for solar energy. Our work in solar technology started during the "oil shock" of the 1970s, which had a major impact on Japan, a country entirely dependent on oil imports. Japan's energy and technology companies, including Solar Frontier's parent company, Showa Shell Sekiyu, teamed up with the Japanese government to plan for a more efficient energy future.
From a well-supported R&D laboratory, Solar Frontier's predecessor took on factory development functions, and finally commercial capability, leveraging Showa Shell's deep energy expertise.
Since commercialization in 2007, the critical factors that make CIS the overall economical and ecological leader have been a combination of high efficiency and low production costs. These factors combine with superior reliability, stability, sustainability, and lower energy usage in the manufacturing process to yield a faster energy payback time.
Find out more about how we are defining new frontiers in energy.
Solar Frontier is a 100% subsidiary of Showa Shell Sekiyu, with roots in solar energy research going back over 30 years, and more than a century of experience in energy provision.
The unique chemistry of Solar Frontier CIS modules yields a black (or in very few cases, partially cloudy) appearance. Module performance also increases over factory spec due to the "light soaking" effect.
CIS: A more ecological photovoltaic module
Solar Frontier's CIS modules require fewer manufacturing steps, less materials, and contain no cadmium. We are setting the pace for environmental friendliness.
The Photovoltaic Landscape
CIS stands for the elements copper (C), indium (I) and selenium (S). Solar Frontier’s CIS modules have numerous advantages over conventional crystalline silicon modules. They offer a higher performance ratio, and compared to other thin-film modules such as amorphous, microcrystalline or multi-junction units, CIS has higher efficiency. In addition, although organic modules show promise, these types are several years from commercial viability. And, unlike other thin-film compounds such as CdTe, Solar Frontier’s CIS modules have no lead or cadmium. CIS fully complies with European RoHS (Restriction of Hazardous Substances) regulations and has no special recycling requirements.
Energy Payback Time
Energy Payback Time (EPT) is the amount of time required in operation to recover the energy spent in producing the modules themselves. Simply put, CIS modules require less energy to produce — 60% less than the current industry standard crystalline silicon.
Source: New Energy and Industrial Technology Development Organization (NEDO)
Less Natural Resources and More Efficient Manufacturing Process
CIS cells are typically 100 times thinner than crystalline cells, requiring less natural resources, and the manufacturing process for a complete module involves significantly fewer steps, with the entire process happening under one roof — from raw materials to finished product.
CIS: 600MW available in 2011, 1GW in 2012
Solar Frontier is dedicated to enabling the most affordable kilowatt hours sourced from the sun. Our efficiency roadmap is based on decades of R&D, and will be achieved at gigawatt scale to reduce cost while assuring the supply our customers need, when it is needed.
1 GW of Production Capacity
Solar Frontier's 900MW factory in Miyazaki, Japan, will bring our total capacity to gigawatt class. Scheduled to start operations in 2011, it will become the world’s largest photovoltaic production facility, and will enable Solar Frontier to meet worldwide demand for the new standard in affordable solar panel performance.
Product Development Roadmap
Solar Frontier manufacturing facilities precisely mirror successful models built and tested at our laboratory in Atsugi, Japan. Our laboratory led the way to the successful operations of our 20 MW and 60 MW plants. The chart above shows our roadmap for efficiencies our customers can expect whether for utilities, energy projects, or office and residential rooftops.
CIS: Consistently superior performance
Our customers ask, "What solar energy solution will deliver the most affordable energy given my needs and conditions?" CIS consistently shows a superior performance ratio compared to the leading technologies, delivering more energy for less.
CIS vs. Polycrystalline Silicon Output Performance
CIS and polycrystalline silicon modules tested side-by-side, normalized for kWp capacity ratings at their respective factories, result in higher kWh/kWp output from CIS. This is due to the unique CIS property of increased energy conversion after light soaking.
Shadow Tolerance
CIS modules have more stable energy output even when part of the module is covered by shadow due to the shadow tolerance of CIS circuitry. Crystalline silicon modules would stop supplying energy under the same conditions.
Long-Term Durability
Our testing has proven the durability of CIS modules, which deliver higher output than factory spec, even after many years of continuous operation.
Electrical Performance at Standard Testing Conditions (25°C, AM1.5, 1,000W/m2)
Temperature Characteristics
Qualifications, Compliance and Warranty
Mechanical Characteristics
| Solar Frontier K.K. (HQ) Daiba Frontier Building 2-3-2 Daiba, Minato-ku, Tokyo 135-8074 Japan Tel: +81 3 5531 5626 |
Solar Frontier Europe GmbH Unterföhring Mediapark Feringastrasse 6 85774 Unterföhring bei München Germany Tel: +49 89 92 86 14 222 |
Solar Frontier Americas Inc. 5201 Great America Pkwy Suite 320 Santa Clara, CA 95054 USA Tel: +1 408 850 7218 |
| Contact: www.solar-frontier.com/contact | ||
- Copyright for all material appearing in this brochure is the property of Solar Frontier. Solar Frontier reserves the right, at our sole discretion, to change, modify, add, or delete content at any time without notice, and makes no commitment to update any content which may be out of date.
- The data contained in this brochure indicates nominal data of our products as of the date of shipment. We do not make any warranty with respect to quality or performance of our products based on this brochure.
