Green Energy Starts Volume Production of Thin Film Solar Cells

Green Energy Technology Inc, a solar technology affiliate of the Tatung Group, announced that it has launched volume production of thin film solar cells on its 8.5-generation production lines, with annual output estimated at 30 megawatts of the cells in 2009.

The company estimated the production to contribute around 20 percent of its 2009 revenue as a major factor to sustain its high growth trend. It will begin to ship the cells in the first quarter of 2009, including 39 million euro worth of contracts.

In pilot production, the company turned out over 600 flawless big-size thin film cell modules, which it proved could convert over 7 percent of sunlight into electricity.

Green Energy equips the production lines with Applied Materials-made tools, making it one of the world`s three thin film solar cell makers running 8.5-generation factory. The company`s executives stressed the company has secured many long term contracts for supplies of the materials crucial for its production.

Taiwanese industry watchers pointed out that thin film solar cell manufacturing is currently Taiwan`s only advantage over mainland China in solar cell competition in consideration of Taiwan`s well developed thin film transistor liquid-crystal display (TFT LCD) production, which uses similar processing as that of the solar cell manufacturing. Taiwan is lagging behind the mainland in crystalline-silicon cell production in terms of production scale and gross margin.

Source: CENS