News Article
A first for Taiwan in thin film solar module production
Green Energy Technology Inc., (GET), has announced that it plans to become what is thought to be, the first company in Taiwan to manufacture thin film solar modules using ultra-large 5.7m2 glass panels.
Green Energy Technology Inc., (GET), has announced that it plans to become what is thought to be, the first company in Taiwan to manufacture thin film solar modules using ultra-large 5.7m2 glass panels. GET has awarded Applied Materials, Inc. a contract to deliver a thin film solar module production line to its planned solar fab in TaoYuan, Taiwan.Mr. Hurlon Lin, president of GET, stated, "From our position in supplying wafers for crystalline silicon solar cell manufacturing, we are seeing a tightened supply of silicon material driven by heavy demand from the solar and semiconductor industries. Using thin film technology for solar cells capitalizes on the greater availability of these glass substrates and the expanding worldwide need for cost-effective photovoltaic panels."There are significant economic advantages to large-area thin film solar technology and, based on Applied Materials' expertise in large-area flat panel manufacturing, we trust Applied to provide the technology and experience that can help make our new venture a success," added Mr. Lin.Applied will deliver a fully integrated line of equipment for a solar panel manufacturing facility with a nominal rated capacity of 40 megawatts per year. The systems are scheduled to be shipped and installed during the first half of 2008 with production expected later that year. GET plans to target rapidly-growing applications for these more cost-effective, large-area modules, such as power plant and building-integrated photovoltaic (PV) installations."We are pleased to work with GET and its parent, Tatung Company, which has a long history and excellent reputation for quality products," said Dr. Mark Pinto, senior vice president and general manager of Applied's New Business and New Products Group. "Based on Applied's experience in providing multiple generations of systems for making continuously larger substrates in the flat panel display industry, we expect these ultra-large panels to provide similar cost benefits to the solar industry."
