AUO Differentiates itself by targeting Notebooks in aCrowded Solar Market

Solar Notebook

AUO is investing massively in Solar Energy to build a multi Gigawatt capacity in partnership with US Solar Efficiency Leader Sunpower.Not only is AUO building a huge factory in JV with Sunpower in Malaysia,it has also made plans to set up a 2 GW Solar Crystalline Solar Cell Fab in Taiwan.This will be a 50:50 mix of multi and monocrystalline technology.Note the solar market despite seeing a massive 100% jump in solar demand in 2010 faces a huge supply overhang from a number of new large players.TSMC,Samsung,Hyundai,Saint Gobain,BYD are just some of the heavyweights ramping up their solar expansion plans.AUO faces a tough time in this crowded market which already has Chinese incumbents establishing gigawatt capacities.A new player needs to differentiate himself in the increasingly commodity market that solar modules have become.

AUO has started a very innovative line of notebooks which will feature a solar module built into the keyboard of the notebook plus its cover.20% of the energy will be saved by this very thin 2.1mm module.The notebook looks smartly designed at least from the pictures and could gain a huge market if properly marketed.It meets a real need as notebooks are becoming hugely energy hungry and has the advantage of being Green as well.AUO is not known to be a notebook player so it will have to tieup with larger notebook makers if it has to make notebooks a significant demand driver for its solar module supply.

AUO presents 14-inch solar-powered touch keyboard notebook solution – DigiTimes

LCD panel maker AU Optronics (AUO) has introduced a 14-inch solar-powered touch keyboard solution for notebook. The thickness of the solar module used in the solution is reduced to 2.1mm. The solar module is built within the notebook’s cover and keyboard panel to absorb both sunlight and electric light, and lowered the use of electric power by 20%.

The specially designed transparent touch keyboard enables users to readily move about their fingers and control the images for the enjoyment of trendy technology, the company said.