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March 2, 2010 – Vol.14 No.50 Konica Minolta Invests in Konarka; to Collaborate on Thin Film Solar. Konarka Technologies hass announced the company has signed a comprehensive R&D collaboration and strategic investment agreement with Konica Minolta Holdings. The companies have reached agreement to start full-scale collaboration in April in the joint development and distribution of organic thin-film photovoltaics. Under the agreement, Konica Minolta has invested $20 million in Konarka. “Konica Minolta positions the organic thin-film photovoltaic business as one of the most promising in the environment and energy field, next to the organic light emitting diode (OLED) business, where our photographic film manufacturing technology is leading mass production,” commented Masatoshi Matsuzaki, CEO at Konica Minolta. “We are pleased to be collaborating with Konarka, the first and world leader to commercialize organic thin-film photovoltaics because of its state-of-the-art polymer technology and its mass production facility in New Bedford, Massachusetts.” The companies will organize respective strengths in materials, optical and coating technologies as well as joint development, aiming to improve organic thin-film photovoltaic performance including higher conversion efficiency, longer life and lower manufacturing costs, to realize mass production of next-generation photovoltaics. Currently, Konarka’s roll-to-roll process simplifies manufacturing scale-up, has significantly lower capital and labor costs than previous generations of solar cells and can be produced using existing coating and printing equipment.
Upon successful results of the joint development milestones, the companies are expected to establish a joint venture company in Japan to produce organic thin-film photovoltaic panels. Konica Minolta will be Konarka’s lead Asian business partner headquartered in Japan. Konarka, of Lowell, Massachusetts, develops and manufactures polymer-based, organic photovoltaic (OPV) technology that provides a source of renewable power in a variety of form factors. Konica Minolta Group globally offers diverse products, services, and solutions in a wide range of fields.(3/1/10)
Links: Konica Minolta Group Konarka
Related: --- Konarka’s Power Plastic to be Tested in Arch Aluminum & Glass Solar Curtain Wall Pilot Project.
Disclaimer, Forward-Looking or Safe Harbor Statement on original press release: No
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