Oerlikon Solar Secures Another Major Order for Thin-Film Solar Module Production Line
Pfaffikon, Switzerland, July 26, 2007
Source: Businesswire/digital50.com
http://digital50.com/news/items/BW/2001/07/14/20070725006446/
Oerlikon Solar, leading global supplier of field-proven thin film production equipment, announced today it has signed a contract with Taiwan’s CMC Magnetics Corp. (CMC) for the supply of a 40-MWp thin-film solar cell production plant. This deal marks Oerlikon Solar’s first major order in Asia-Pacific and further highlights customer confidence in the thin-film solar global market leader’s technology. The first components will be shipped to CMC this year and production is planned for mid-2008.
“With this major order, Oerlikon Solar becomes the world’s first company to supply a customer with a fully automated production line for thin-film solar modules with integrated test systems,” said Dr. Uwe Kruger, CEO of Oerlikon. “This is only the beginning. As more and more companies adopt this much-needed technology, Oerlikon Solar will lead the surge by supporting customers’ needs and providing them with the most-advanced, cost-effective equipment to date. Oerlikon Solar has reached a further important milestone in the development of its product portfolio and continues to build on its leading market position.”
The modern Oerlikon Solar high-tech production line enables the manufacture of silicon thin-film modules at an expected annual output of approximately 40 MWp. The turnkey end-to-end plant embraces the entire production process from glass purification to testing of the finished solar modules. Also included in the CMC contract is a service package for commissioning the process equipment and for getting production up to speed. A new feature of the supply deal with CMC is implementation of the entire metrology system for quality control, the “back end” of module production as well as the recently released proprietary TCO technology.
The innovative TCO layers play a central role in thin-film solar modules of silicon by creating exceptional electrical conductivity in order to transport the solar electricity with as little resistance as possible, and by trapping the light in the film and passing it through the photoactive silicon layer. Ultimately, these factors determine the performance of the solar modules and directly reduce the cost per watt peak. Until now, there has been no supplier of a TCO plant on the global market. The contract with CMC also includes the option to upgrade capacity and migrate to Oerlikon’s next technology generation of Micromoph Tandem.
“Oerlikon Solar is the absolute leader in thin-film solar technology and, at present, is the only supplier of mature production plants for thin-film solar modules,” said Bob Wang, chairman of CMC. “Our decision was therefore clear — we are going with the market and technology leader.”
About Oerlikon Solar
Oerlikon Solar offers cost-effective, field proven solutions for the mass production of Thin Film Silicon Solar Modules. These fully automated, modular end-to-end manufacturing solutions are focused on reducing device cost and maximizing productivity. They are available as modular end-to-end solutions with metrology and upgradeability in throughput and process technology.
Oerlikon Solar has developed a unique and innovative technology based on its leadership in thin film technology and in close cooperation with its customers. An in-house pilot line allows producing, testing and optimizing the solar modules in full production size. Oerlikon Solar, headquartered in Truebbach, Switzerland, with an R&D Lab in Neuchatel, employs 160 individuals. Global customer support and training are provided through sales and service centers in the United States, Europe and Asia.