Southeast Asia is quickly becoming a regional powerhouse in photovoltaic (PV) production with a number of planned and completed investments. To discuss these recent developments and provide a networking opportunity for regional buyers and suppliers, Semicon Singapore will present a PV workshop on Tuesday, May 6 at the Suntec Singapore International Convention and Exhibition Center.
Marking the timeliness of the SEMI PV event is a number of recent announcements in PV in the region. The world's largest manufacturing plant for making solar energy products will soon be built in Singapore. The plant is expected to start production of wafers, cells and modules used to generate solar power by 2010. It will be built by leading Norwegian solar energy firm Renewable Energy Corp (REC) in the Tuas View area with space set aside for supporting industries. The plant will be able to produce products that can generate up to 1.5 gigawatts (Gw) of energy annually, enough to power several million households at any one time.
“The project will be a 'queen bee' to attract a hive of solar activities to Singapore - big companies and young start-ups engaged in research and development, manufacturing and innovation, as well as the supplier ecosystem,' said Ko Kheng Hwa, Managing Director of the Economic Development Board (EDB), which signed the deal with REC.
Leading cell manufacturer, First Solar, has also announced major plans for the region. They have announced the construction of a fourth manufacturing plant in Malaysia with four production lines, bringing the total number of production lines to 16 for the Malaysian Manufacturing Center. The new plant is scheduled to start production in the second half of 2009 and will be built adjacent to the three previously announced plants currently under construction in Malaysia.
OC Oerlikon also said that it will continue to expand production, development and support for its leading thin-film silicon solar energy solutions in Singapore, including the opening of Asian Hub later this year.
The Semicon Singapore PV event is said to be the first of its kind in the region. The four-hour workshop will address government initiatives, manufacturing developments, leading supplier perspectives, and regional R&D activities.
