Japan’s Nippon Sheet Glass (5202.T: Quote, Profile, Research, Stock Buzz) said on Thursday it has been modifying its U.S. plants to boost solar cell glass output but voiced concerns about missing business chances as demand will likely grow faster than it can keep up with.
Nippon Sheet Glass, which competes with Japan’s Asahi Glass Co Ltd (5201.T: Quote, Profile, Research, Stock Buzz), France’s Saint-Gobain (SGOB.PA: Quote, Profile, Research, Stock Buzz) and U.S.-based Guardian, sees glass used to make solar power equipment as a growth driver amid booming demand for renewable energy sources.
“The issue is not the lack of growth opportunity. The issue is in the business decision that we make,” Nippon Sheet CEO Stuart Chambers told reporters, citing the outlook for solar cell glass demand to jump some seven times in five years.