Mitsubishi Electric Seals Solar Panel Contract With

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Tokyo - Mar 04, 2004
Agreement on a multi-million euro contract for the supply of solar array panels was reached between Mitsubishi Electric Corporation and Alcatel Space on February 17th, 2004.

Over the course of the four-year contract, Mitsubishi Electric will supply the solar array panels for Alcatel Space's Spacebus(1). This contract follows the previous solar array panel supply agreement signed between the two companies in 2000.

The solar array panels will be manufactured at the Sagami factory, Japan, and installed at the Alcatel Space plant in Cannes, France. Satellites manufactured by Alcatel Space and installed with Mitsubishi Electric panels are already in orbit and functioning excellently.

The signing of the new contract is an indicator of the reliability of Mitsubishi Electric's products and the company's lengthy experience in this area. "This contract further consolidates our leadership in the solar array panel market," said Masao Kawachi, General Manager of Mitsubishi Electric Space Systems Division.

"Our flight-proven and advanced technologies have enabled us to achieve a high level of recognition from Alcatel Space. It makes us extremely proud that they have continued to place their trust in us since the year 2000. We certainly hope to be able to explore ways of expanding our partnership in any other area where both companies can work together in the future."

ENERGY TECH

Antireflection Coating For Solar Collectors Undergoing Tests

Clausthal - Feb 25, 2004
The black absorbers of parabolic-trough solar collectors are surrounded by borosilicate glass tubes in the focal line of the reflector. These tubes reflect a total of about eight per cent of the sunlight.