Features
Features of Nippon Steel & Sumitomo Metal Group Products for Solar Power Generation
A dye-sensitized solar cell with excellent conversion efficiency (even under low amounts of light) was developed.
Nippon Steel & Sumikin Chemical Co., Ltd
Dye-sensitized solar cells: High-efficiency power generation capacity even under low amounts of light
Nippon Steel & Sumikin Chemical is promoting the development of a dye-sensitized solar cell envisioned as a next-generation organic solar cell with excellent conversion efficiency, even at low light levels.
The solar cell is flexible and colorful, and displays high-efficiency power generation capacity even at low light levels. It is ideal for wall-hung or glass-through types.

Dye-sensitized solar cell
At PVEXPO (Photovoltaic Power Generation Expo), Nippon Steel & Sumikin Chemical also exhibited a prototype sample of its new dye-sensitized solar cell created by combining process technologies that allow for the realization of low weight and a slim design.
For this sample, a characteristic cell structure is used, and thus the realization of flexible resin solar cells will be possible. The cell has the potential such that solar cell power generation for various applications will be possible in the future.
In addition, the total power of research results, such as studies in chemical synthesis/chemical processes, quantum-chemical analyses of electron transfer and energy levels, and the considerations of the devices creation and evaluation methods, have been applied to this development.
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- Dye-sensitized solar cell
Features of the Nippon Steel & Sumitomo Metal Group in Solar Power Generation and Solar Heat Power Generation Equipment and Components
Components that achieve high performance were developed and are supplied.
Nippon Steel & Sumitomo Metal Group
Significantly shortening the construction period of solar power generation facilities
Nippon Steel & Sumitomo Metal Engineering Ltd
Providing a broad range of components and construction methods that display high performance
In addition to electricity-generating elements/materials, Nippon Steel Group is handling the supply of members related to facilities and the construction of these facilities themselves.
Solar power generation

Nippon Steel Group is providing high corrosion resistance and long-life products for a wide variety of members, such as module frames, installation mounts, and power-receiving/transforming facilities.
Solar heat power generation

Steel plates, steel pipes, and stainless steel, etc. can be applied to reflector panels, towers, boilers, and turbines, etc.
Related members: "Panel installation mounts" and "module frames," etc.
"SuperDyma™": Fitting the best panel installation mounts
- SuperDyma™ is a new, high corrosion-resistance type of coated steel in which the coating layer is composed of mostly zinc, approx. 11% aluminum, approx. 3% magnesium, and a fine amount of silicone.
- It has high durability and high corrosion resistance, and has received high evaluation regarding solar panel installation mounts, as a material that has the advantage of cost reduction for both after-coating materials and aluminum extruded materials.

SuperDyma™ is receiving high evaluation as an installation mount material that can sustain solar panels.

Solar panels using "SuperDyma™" for their mounts

SuperDyma™ can also be used for mega-solar panels.
Construction method: "NS Eco-spiral™" can greatly shorten the construction period.
- In the solar light power generation field, Nippon Steel & Sumikin Engineering can also serve in the construction category as well as in the material, product, and technology categories.
- Nippon Steel & Sumitomo Metal Engineering provides a Footingless Pile Construction Method (NS Eco-spiral) to greatly shorten the foundation construction period for photovoltaic facilities.
- NS Eco-spiral has various advantages, such as shorter construction period and the ability to use the space under mounts and vacant lots, when compared with spread footing.
- NS Eco-spiral is very effective when the ground is relatively weaker (N-value is less than around 10) and the spread footing is larger.

NS Eco-spiral contributes to cost reductions by reducing the construction period.
Functional comparison of the Footingless method with the direct method.
Direct method | Footingless method (NS Eco-spiral) |
|
---|---|---|
Work period* One array of 12 columns |
△ 7 - 8 days ・Excavation, boxing, reinforcing, concrete: 4 - 5 days ・ Curing: 3 days |
◎ 3 days ・Excavation, boxing, reinforcing, concrete: 4 - 5 days ・ Curing: 3 days |
Working environment | △ Surplus soil from excavation △ Concreting work not possible in rainy conditions |
○ No surplus soil from excavation ○ Relatively unaffected by weather conditions |
Work on sloping surfaces | △ High labor content, low working efficiency | ○ Possible with piling machine designed for sloping surfaces |
Use of existing unused sites | △ Requires large-scale works | ○ Foundations easily removed |
Spaces under mounts | △ Projecting footing restricts space | ○ Usable over a wide range (e.g. parking lots, bike parks) |
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- NS Eco-spiral
Features of Nippon Steel & Sumitomo Metal Products for Wind Power Generation
High-quality steel products can be applied to a wide variety of components.
Nippon Steel & Sumitomo Metal Corporation
Also providing lubricant/grease and planned lubrication systems
Nippon Steel & Sumikin Chemical Co., Ltd
Providing a wide variety of steel products, materials, and solutions for blades, nacelles, towers, and foundations.
The Nippon Steel & Sumitomo Metal Group has a range of steel products for a wide variety of components such as steel pipe for towers and electrical steel sheet for motors that contribute to the increasing use of wind power.
Our group is also providing lubricants, grease, and planned lubrication systems for main bearings and speed-increasing gears, which play important roles in wind power generation.

- inside nacelles (e.g. step-up gears, generators, large bearings)
- Step-up gears (e.g. gears and bearings) → Bars and wire rods
- Power generators → Electrical steel sheet
- Mechanical structures inside nacelles → Bolts
- For all types of bearings → Lubricating oils and lubrication management systems

- Towers and foundations
- Towers (shells and flanges) → Bolts
- Foundations → Steel plate and steel pipe piles
List of products, methods, and technology (materials and products)
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- Lubricating Oils and Lubrication Management Systems
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- Lubricating Oils and Lubrication Management Systems
Features of Engineering for Nippon Steel & Sumitomo Metal Group Wind Power Generation
A record of achievement in the construction of wind turbine generators
Nippon Steel & Sumitomo Metal Engineering Ltd
Operating Japan's first wind power generation business in a harbor district
NS Wind Power Hibiki

Meeting the needs of "corrosion resistance,""low-temperature toughness," and "high toughness"
Nippon Steel & Sumitomo Metal Engineering Co., Ltd. is in charge of constructing wind power plants. NS Wind Power Hibiki, a Group company, is operating Japan's first wind power generation business in a harbor area.
- Wind power generation business
- Name of business: Hibikinada Wind Power Generation Business
- Scale: 10 generators with a rated power of 1,500 kW each
- Total power: 15,000 kW
- Wind force for power generation: 3 m/s
- Rated wind force: 12 m/s
- Stop wind force: 25 m/s
- Annually planned power generation: 3,500 kWh
- (equivalent to the annual electrical usage of approx. 10,000 households)
- Annual CO2 reduction volume: Approx. 13,200 t
- (equivalent to the absorbed volume of approx. 950,000 cedar trees)
- Start of operation: March 2003
The Hibikinada wind power generation business conforms to environmental measures and policies, such as the eco-town project, which Kitakyushu City (facing the Hibikinada of Kitakyushu City of Fukuoka Prefecture) is engaged in, and contributes to a better understanding of the natural environment, such as CO2 reduction, as a symbol of eco-friendly clean energy.
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- Wind Power Generation Plant Construction
Example of use

Starting a Wind power generation business in Kitakyushu
View the detailNS Wind Power Hibiki (70.9% ownership by Nippon Steel & Sumitomo Metal Engineering) has completed a wind power plantat a total project cost of approximately 3 billion yen. The plant operation and selling power in March 2003.
Generating power of approx. 10,000 general households
This wind power plant consists of 10 Germany-made windmill generators, each of which has a rated power of 1,500 kW, and it generates annual power of 35,000,000 kWh.
This is the equivalent of the electricity consumption of approximately 10,000 average households. The reduction in CO2 output by provided by this plant is approximately 13,000 tonnes/year.
During construction of this wind power plant, NS Wind Power Hibiki was able to leverage the the abundant experience of Nippon Steel & Sumitomo Metal Group gained from steelmaking and steel structures in the areas of marine steels, and new light and strong materials.
Japan's first Wind power generation business in a harbor district
This Wind power generation business is the first time such an endeavor has been undertaken in a harbor district in Japan. This area faces Hibikinada of Kitakyushu City and is located in a greenbelt adjacent to the Yellow Sea rim zone hub port, which Kitakyushu City is constructing.
Hibikinada of Kitakyushu City is the center area of the "Kitakyushu City International Logistics-specific District," and is also close to "Kitakyushu Eco-town," where recycling enterprises gather. In this area, various approaches are being executed to aim at the realization of a smart community, and NS Wind Power Hibiki will position and operate this wind power plant as a "symbol of clean energy" in the eco-town enterprises that are being promoted in this area.
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