JS Group to Start Solar Energy Business

JS Group starts a solar energy generation system business from April 2010, announced on Monday. JS Group established a new operating company, Lixil Energy Corporation to start the business. Lixil Energy plan to take a 5% share of new solar panel installation in Japan, which equivalent to 10,000 units and the sales are planned at 5 billion yen for the first fiscal year. The firm plan to increase the share to more than 10% and the sales is planned to expand to more than 10 billion yen. The firm manufactures solar panel and fuel cells related products. JS Group plans to generate a synergy effect among the sales force of energy materials of the group and Lixil

Tostem Corporation, an operating company of JS Group constructs one of Japan’s largest photovoltaic facilities in Ariake factory of Tostem, Kumamoto, Japan, announced on Monday. The facility with 3.75 megawatt output is planned to start operation from February 2011. Tostem and JS group plan to establish facilities of similar size in Fukushima and Ibaraki, Japan. The new facility is one of the largest in Japan excluding energy companies including electric power companies, according to surveys by Tostem.