Solartech expanding production capacity
by Nuying Huang, Taipei; Adam Hwang
Source: DIGITIMES, 24 September 2008
http://digitimes.com/bits_chips/a20080923PD217.html
Solartech Energy, a Taiwan-based producer of crystalline silicon solar cells, is expanding its production capacity through the construction of a new factory in northern Taiwan. Total annual capacity is to increase from the current 60MWp at its existing factory located elsewhere in northern Taiwan to 1,200MWp in 2013, according to company chairman KS Liu. Solartech is setting up the new factory at a 36,360 square meter site, Liu indicated. Solartech will extend its production from only crystalline silicon solar cells to include high-concentration solar cells produced at the new factory, Liu said.
Solartech’s new factory will also house the production lines of its CIGS (copper-indium-gallium-selenide) thin-film solar cell subsidiary, Sunshine PV, with the first phase to be completed in 2011, and the second phase in 2013, Liu pointed out. Solartech has paid-in capital of NT$950 million (US$29.7 million) currently and expects to list on the Taiwan Stock Exchange (TSE) in the fourth quarter of 2008.
Sunshine will adopt CIGS technology provided by Germany-based Centrotherm Photovoltaic AG and plans to start trial production in the first quarter of 2009, with volume production to start in the following quarter, the company noted. The energy conversion rate for CIGS solar cells is expected to rise from 8% initially to 10% within several months, and further to 12% 18 months after, Sunshine pointed out.
Production capacity schedule at new factory
Solartech/Crystalline silicon solar cells (MWp) /High-concentration solar cells (MWp)
Phase 1 (to be finished in 2011) / 480 / 90 /90
Phase 2 (to begin in 2010 and be finished in 2013) / 480 / 90 / 90
Sunshine /CIGS thin-film solar cells (MWp)
Phase 1 (to be finished in 2011) / 90
Phase 2 (to begin in 2010 and be finished in 2013) / 90