Fuji Electric Releases Solar Power Generating Weed-Control Mats

Copyright Fuji Electric Co.

Fuji Electric Co., a Japanese manufacturer of electrical machinery and appliances, announced on December 1, 2011, the release of a power-generating weed-control mat, a photovoltaic system combined with a barrier mat for preventing weed growth. The product, jointly developed with Coretec Inc., a manufacturer that specializes in energy-saving machinery and systems, is attracting attention as a new application for photovoltaic power.

Japanese national and local governments occasionally use weed-control mats over soil to keep unused or sloped areas of land free of weeds. By substituting conventional weed-control mats with Fuji Electric's solar type, unused and sloped land can now serve as space for generating energy.

The new photovoltaic system is thin, lightweight, and flexible. These features allow the mat to be installed easily on inclines, embankments and levees--places where conventional photovoltaic panels are difficult to install. It also does not require any large-scale installation labor or equipment, such as scaffolding or other major construction work, which reduces the cost of installation and removal. It therefore shows great promise for application on unused and sloped areas and alongside roads, railroad tracks, and rivers throughout Japan.

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Posted: 2012/03/15 06:00:15 AM