How Japan’s Crisis Could cause Cleantech push

Post date: Mar 14, 2011 10:39:24 PM

Japan is both a large producer and users of solar energy equipment.

Major solar manufactures in Japan include

Sharp, Kyocera , Sanyo and Solar Frontier

(with the largest copper-indium-gallium-selenide factory in the world). For Sharp, the quake and tsunami haven’t incurred major damage to any of its factories, not just solar, but the precise extent of their impact remains to be seen, Christopher Loncto, director of media relations for Sharp Electronics, told us. Issues such as power outages — which are anticipated — would interrupt factory operations, of course, even if the equipment is in good shape to continue operating. Solar Frontier said the quake and tsunami didn’t affect its operations, and its supply chain “appears to be intact at this time

Japan also is among the top five solar energy markets,

thanks to government’s commitment to reduce greenhouse gas emissions and solar subsidies.

Japan also is a key supplier of electric cars and components.

Toyota has stopped its plants for making Prius,

prompting concerns from dealerships. Panasonic, which makes a bunch of electronics as well as lithium-ion batteries for the Prius, said Monday it hasn’t receivedreports of any major damage to its factories, but can’t say yet the impact of the quake on its production. Panasonic has a battery cell development deal with Tesla Motors, which in turn has a development agreement with Toyota to help design an electric Rav4 using Tesla’s powertrain.

source: gigaom.com