Panasonic 2010 Annual Report Download - page 36

Strong Sales Anchored by Solar Cells and Optical
Pickups
In the three-month period from January to March 2010,
sales of digital cameras struggled due mainly to lower
market prices of products. However, overall sales were
favorable as demand recovered, particularly for solar cells
and optical pickups.
Amid rising demand spurred by economic stimulus
programs and environmental policies in various countries,
sales of solar cells increased as SANYO strengthened
competitiveness with high conversion efficiency and man-
ufacturing cost reductions. Sales of lithium-ion batteries
and electronic components such as optical pickups regis-
tered favorable growth due to recovering demand in the
PC market.
Advanced Energy Solutions Business,
Integrating Energy Generation, Storage and
Efficiency Technologies
In order to capitalize on business opportunities stemming
from a growing worldwide awareness of the need to reduce
CO2 emissions, SANYO will continue developing a new
solutions business by leveraging its strengths in recharge-
able batteries, solar cell technologies and other areas.
SANYO will promote the Smart Energy System (SES),
which sophisticatedly integrates technologies for Energy
Generation, Energy Storage and Energy Efficiency to use
energy more efficiently. SANYO aims to cultivate busi-
nesses related to control devices for the system and rel-
evant services as well as expand its existing businesses.
SANYO manufactures and sells products in three fields:
energy (solar cells and rechargeable batteries), ecology
(commercial equipment, home appliances and car elec-
tronics), and electronics (electronic devices and digital
system devices) to support the energy and ecology fields.
SANYO has developed these businesses globally, plac-
ing a great emphasis on energy-related businesses.
SANYO is drawing on its unique technologies such as
lithium-ion batteries widely used in mobile devices and
HEVs (hybrid electric vehicles), and HIT®* Solar Cells, which
boast high conversion efficiency.
* HIT is a registered trademark of SANYO Electric Co., Ltd.
SANYO
5%
m Percentage of
Fiscal 2010 Sales
Fiscal 2010 Results* (Fiscal 2009 results are in brackets)
m Sales
m Segment Profit
Profit/sales ratio
¥404.8 billion
(—)
¥–0.7 billion
(—)
–0.2% (—)
* SANYO Electric Co., Ltd. and its subsidiaries became consolidated subsidiaries of Panasonic
in December 2009. Results are therefore for the period from January to March 2010.
SES enables to use energy more efficiently by storing electricity generated with solar cells and economical late-night rate electricity in lithium-ion
batteries for supply to various equipment, making possible reductions in CO2 emissions and electricity consumption.
Smart Energy System (SES)
Showcase Refrigeration
units
Commercial
air conditioner
HIT® solar module
Large-capacity, high-voltage
lithium-ion battery system
Lithium-ion batteries
Energy efficiency technologies that sharply reduce
energy use in stores and elsewhere through coordi-
nated control of equipment.
Highly stable and reliable, SANYO’s rechargeable
batteries command a leading global market share.
Solar cell technology boasting one of
the world’s highest conversion
efficiency rates.
Integrated management and
control of Energy Generation,
Energy Storage and Energy
Efficiency.
A smart energy solution that unites SANYO’s sophisti-
cated technologies to use energy more efficiently.
Plans call for developing business in various fields,
ranging from houses and shops to factories and ships.
Controller
34 Panasonic Corporation 2010
Business Review and Strategies