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Rising with the Sun: A Japanese Pioneer’s Lifelong Quest for Solar Energy and a Sustainable Future

(著) 桑野幸徳

作品詳細

[About the Book]
—Both in business and in energy issues, the future lies beyond a challenging path—
This book is a chronicle of the research, development, and life of the author, who dedicated his career to solar energy. He invented the stacked amorphous silicon solar cell and became the first in the world to successfully industrialize it. Through these achievements, he left a lasting mark on the history of solar power.

Despite facing setbacks and serious challenges, his unwavering curiosity and passion for solar power never faltered. Reflecting on his journey as an engineer, R&D manager, and business executive, this insightful memoir also considers the present and future of the solar energy business.

[Table of Contents]
Prologue
1. Childhood in the Midst of War
2. A Young Researcher’s Failure
3. Beginning the Development of Solar Cells Using Amorphous
4. Toward a New-Type Solar Cell: The Invention of the Integrated Amorphous Silicon Solar Cell
5. Moving Toward the Use of Solar Power for Electricity
6. Development of the High-Performance New Solar Cell (HIT® Solar Cell) with the World’s Highest Conversion Efficiency
7. The Challenge of Bringing Solar Power to My Own Home
8. How the First Kuwano Solar Power Plant with Reverse Power Flow Was Realized
9. A New Challenge: Making Solar Power Installable by Anyone
10. Wearing Two Hats: From Researcher to Businessperson
11. A Third Life: Solar Power Generation Aiming to Become a Core Energy Source
12. Epilogue —Continuing to Dream and Pursue Those Dreams
Afterword
Author’s Bio and Writings

[Editor’s Note]
This book recounts the life of the author, who devoted himself to the research and industrialization of solar power—one of the renewable energy sources whose widespread adoption is increasingly essential today. It is not only a valuable resource for understanding the technological history of solar energy, but also offers fascinating insights for businesspeople outside the field of scientific research.

[Author’s Profile]
Yukinori Kuwano
Former Representative Director and President of Sanyo Electric, Doctor of Engineering from Osaka University
Present roles: Director, Daiwa House Industry / Honorary Advisor, Photovoltaic Power Generation Technology Research Association / Advisor, Dai Nippon Printing / Chief Technical Advisor, Eco Style / Fellow of the Japan Society of Applied Physics / Fellow of the Japan Solar Energy Society / Kumamoto University Fellow.
Born in 1941, graduated from Kumamoto University’s Faculty of Science, Department of Chemistry. Earned his Doctorate in Engineering at Osaka University. He joined Sanyo Electric in 1963 and worked continuously on research and development of solar cells. After serving as Director of the R&D Headquarters, Head of the Information and Communications Business Headquarters, President of the Semiconductor Company, and President of Sanyo Electric, I also served as Director at OPTE Group, Chairman of the Photovoltaic Power Generation Technology Research Association, among other posts.
During this time, I invented integrated amorphous silicon solar cells and was the first in the world to successfully commercialize them. I served as Vice President of the Japan Solar Energy Society, Visiting Professor at Osaka University and Osaka Electro-Communication University, a member of various government committees on solar cells, and on the organizing committee for the International Photovoltaic Conference.
I have received numerous awards for my solar cell work, including the Science and Technology Agency Director’s Award, the PVSEC Award for International Achievements in Photovoltaics, the Fulrath Award, the Photovoltaics Pioneer Award from the Japan Council for Renewable Energy, the Japan Chemical Technology Award, among others.