Solar Cells Info

Jimmy Hsu, Taipei; Esther Lam, DIGITIMES, 26 July 2007
Source: DigiTimes.com
http://www.digitimes.com/bits_chips/a20070725PD220.html

Sun Well Technology, CMC Magnetics’ recently announced subsidiary for thin-film solar cell production, held the groundbreaking ceremony on July 25 for its new plant which is to commence volume production in 2008.  Construction of the plant will be completed in late November with equipment move-in to follow in the first quarter of 2008. CMC reiterated that volume production should commence in the first half of 2008, likely to be the second quarter at the earliest.

CMC chairman Robert Wong confirmed reports that equipment for the first production line will be supplied by Switzerland-based supplier Oerlikon. He added in saying that a second line will come onboard in the second half of 2008 and that the plant may see its annual capacity hitting 40 peak megawatt (MWp) in 2008.

Although the power conversion rate of thin-film solar cells is about 7%, which is relatively lower than silicon-based solar cells’ average of 13%, Wong explained that the applications of these solar cells are different. Sun Well will mainly produce thin-film solar cells for glass walls, he said.

Regarding profitability of Sun Well, Wong is confident that Sun Well may deliver a gross margin that is 10% higher than its peers, citing the strong technology background of Oerlikon and CMC’s long-established background on dye and film coating. Among the two types of thin-film solar cells that Sun Well is going to produce, the one that delivers higher light penetration rate will start volume production in the second quarter of 2008.

With CMC having been caught up in intellectual property (IP) issues over optical disc production in the past, Wong said since many basic solar-related IPs are expired and CMC has accumulated many IPs related to solar, Sun Well should be free from IP constrains.