Japan co unveils solar home appliances

A Japanese company has launched solar-powered home appliances, which will almost halve energy use. Japan Solartech (Bangladesh) Limited unveiled the products at a seminar on 'Total Solar Solutions: A Road to Sustainable Energy' at a city hotel Monday. The products are fan, low-energy refrigerator, LCD-TV and monitor, and energy-efficient lights to be powered by solar system. Company officials said the table fans will save energy by 45 per cent to 65 per cent while low energy refrigerator will save 35 to 62 per cent, LCD-TV and monitor 45 to 268 per cent, and energy efficient Lights 40-70 per cent. They said the company will set up a factory in the Korean Export Processing Zone (EPZ) for manufacturing solar system equipment and the country will be a hub of such products. Addressing the product launching ceremony as the chief guest, industries minister Dilip Barua said the government has given priority on the renewable energy use to reduce reliance on fossil fuels to generate electricity. "Our government has adopted a renewable energy policy to develop, disseminate, and promote renewable energy technologies to meet the growing energy needs of the county," the minister said. He also urged Japan Solartech (Bangladesh) Limited to invest in Bangladesh. Japan Solartech is a joint venture between U-Tec Group in Japan engaged in manufacturing of solar related products and energy efficient home appliances, and Trade Service International, a trading company in Bangladesh. Mr. Barua said the decision of U-Tec to invest in Bangladesh's renewable energy sector would help transfer cutting-edge technology to Bangladesh, because its solutions would not only generate solar power but also ensure long term efficient storage of power. Citing tax exemption on solar energy equipment, Mr. Barua said that the government had set a target to develop renewable energy resources to 5.0 per cent of total power demand by 2015 and 10 per cent by 2020. Masayuki Uchiyama, chairman of U-Tec Group of Industries, said Japan Solartech seeks to become a leader in manufacturing solar products and energy-efficient home appliances in this region. He said products manufactured in Bangladesh would gradually be exported to neighbouring countries and developed countries. Dr. Rafiqul Islam, Deputy Managing Director, Japan Solartech (Bangladesh) Limited and Mike Kataoka, Director, SANYO Asia Pte Limited presented two keynote papers separately on the issue. Power Division secretary Abul Kalam Azad, Vice Chancellor of United International University Dhaka Dr Rezwan Khan, Head of Electrical and Electronics Engineering Department, BUET Dr Saifur Rahman, Managing Director of Grameen Shakti Abser Kamal and Charge d'Affairs of Embassy of Japan spoke in the seminar.