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May 13, 2008
Grossroehrsdorf,
Germany: Sunfilm to Expand Thin Film Solar Module Production
Due
to strong demand for its solar modules, Sunfilm AG has awarded
Applied Materials, Inc. a contract for a second Applied SunFab™
Thin Film Line. This second production line will be installed
next to Sunfilm’s first line in Grossroehrsdorf, near Dresden,
Germany. Sunfilm’s first Applied SunFab Line, ordered last year,
is expected to begin initial production runs this July, with the
second line scheduled for start up approximately one year later.
This
will bring Sunfilm’s annual capacity at this site to over 120MWp.
With
these production lines, Sunfilm says the company is setting a
new benchmark for the solar industry by manufacturing the world’s
first tandem junction, silicon thin film photovoltaic modules
using 5.7m2 glass panels. These ultra-large substrates also offer
the flexibility to produce finished solar modules of half and
quarter size, depending on customer preferences.
“Developing
cost-effective solar technology is critical for the future, and
we must continue to find new ways to improve module performance
in order to make solar energy more affordable for the end users,”
said Dr. Sven Hansen, chairman of Sunfilm’s Supervisory Board.
“Our first Applied SunFab Line is making excellent progress towards
this goal.”
“Sunfilm’s
lines will be a first in the industry, demonstrating the significant
advantages of scale by applying large area nanomanufacturing technology
and tandem junction efficiency to reduce cost,” said Dr. Mark
Pinto, senior vice president and general manager of Applied’s
Energy and Environmental Solutions Group. “Sunfilm’s commitment
to a second line affirms the readiness of 5.7m2 tandem junction
technology for manufacturing.”
Applied
Materials’ SunFab Thin Film Line features tandem junction cell
technology that combines amorphous and microcrystalline layers
to absorb both the shorter and longer wavelengths of sunlight.
These tandem junction cells deliver significantly higher conversion
efficiencies at a competitive cost per watt relative to single
junction technologies. By combining tandem technology with ultra-large
5.7m2 substrates and volume manufacturing, Sunfilm expects to
substantially reduce the cost of solar electricity.
Further details about: Sunfilm
AG and Applied Materials
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