Kaneka to Double Solar Battery Production in Japan in ’07

Osaka, Feb. 1 (Jiji Press)–Japanese chemicals and resin maker Kaneka Corp. said Wednesday it plans to nearly double its annual solar battery production capacity in Japan to 55 megawatts from current 30 megawatts by around spring 2007.

Investing some 5 billion yen, Kaneka will scale up its subsidiary plant in Toyooka, Hyogo prefecture, western Japan.

It will also consider further expansion to an annual 70 megawatts around 2008.

Meanwhile, the company will outsource its solar battery assembly process to a Czech plant, planning to launch such operations in spring this year. The plant’s annual output capacity of 10 megawatts will grow threefold in the near future, Kaneka said.

Amid growing awareness of environmental issues, demand for solar battery is expected to increase, particularly in Europe, the world’s largest market.

By utilizing the assembly plant location, Kaneka aims to strengthen its competitiveness through shorter delivery times and lower distribution costs, company officials said.END