Solar Cells Info

Rodney Chan, Taipei, 12 December 2007
Source: DigiTimes
http://www.digitimes.com/bits_chips/a20071212VL202.html

The partnership with equipment supplier Oerlikon is expected to shorten the time thin-film solar cell maker Sunwell Technology will need to begin mass production and to raise yields, according to Robert Wong, chairman of CMC Magnetics, the parent company of the Taiwan-based solar cell maker.  Wong noted that Oerlikon, which supplies Sunwell’s production equipment, has already had experience in mass production for solar cells.  A ceremony was held on December 10 to mark the completion of Sunwell’s solar cell plant in Linkou, northern Taiwan. Sunwell will supply solar cells as well as building integrated photovoltaics (BIPV).

The chairman of Taiwan’s leading optical disc maker said Sunwell expects to start mass production and shipments by the end of the first quarter of 2008. He said the Linkou plant will initially have two production lines, with a total capacity of 50MWp. Expecting to have a 85% utilization rate, Sunwell targets revenues of NT$3 billion (US$92.67 million) for next year, he added.

Sunwell plans to expand its capacity in 2009, and CMC’s next step is to construct solar cell plants in China and Thailand, the chairman said, adding the China plant may accommodate a production capacity of 700MWp.  Although the conversion efficiency of thin-film solar cells is currently 7-9%, lower than the 10-16% for crystalline silicon solar cells, thin-film solar cells have better faint-light capability.

Wong cited statistics from Nano Markets as indicating that the worldwide thin-film PV market will grow to US$7.5 billion in 2015 from US$1 billion in 2006. Thin-film solar cells will account for 35% of the PV market in 2015, and will increase to 56% in 2020, the chairman cited the Nano Markets figures as indicating.