This article talks about innovation in solar energy, an area I have become familiar with after conducting my informational interview with Scott Redd who works in Solar Project development at Sun Edison LLC, the leading supplier for solar energy in North America. In Japan, Solar frontier KK is taking steps to finalizing its solar panel factory, supposedly being able to produce more photovoltaic cells than an other facility in the world. What's interesting about this company's mission to becoming the worlds lead supplier for solar panels is that it's parent company is one of the biggest oil corporations in Japan, Showa Shell Sekiyu. The CEO of Solar Frontier Shigeaki Kamaeda recognizes that the oil industry isn't going anywhere anytime soon, as Scott Redd also stated during the informatonal interview, but both recognize the importance of an early investment in a potential industry changing technology. Yet, Solar frontier claims that it will turn this investment into profits by 2014 accounting for 50% of the company's earning's although this seems a little to optimistic to me, I would like to see them accomplish this. Solar frontier is taking advantage of the current decrease in demand for oil in japan and the decrease of it's oil capabilities by 20% to really focus on pushing solar energy. If Solar Frontier can accomplish the goals they have set out, it will be a milestone in the alternative energy revolution, and prove as an example for future companies that are seeking to do the same.
Jaisukh Samaha
http://online.wsj.com/article/SB10001424052748703957804575603531119514328.html?mod=WSJ_Energy_leftHeadlines
I feel that if Solar Frontier accomplishes its goals in Japan, then it will not only prove to be an example for companies, but also for nations. If other nations see a switch to solar energy in another country, they might place incentives and other things in their own nation to increase a switch to solar or other new energy sources, which would greatly affect the energy industry.
ReplyDelete- Caitlin McGonnigal