Applied Materials is
continuing with its commitment to the solar industry, today opening
a solar research and demonstration facility in Xi'an, China, one
the company claimed is the largest non-government solar energy
research facility in the world.
While Applied is far from alone in showing interest in the solar
market, according to Gartner the industry in 2009 ran into its
first major market
cycle after years of double-digit growth. Issues such as
limited credit, economically unstable customers, currency
fluctuations, and changing global legislation have hit PV
(photovoltaic) vendors. Gartner recently estimated that the
worldwide PV market reached 5.4 GW and $16.3 billion in solar-cell
revenue in 2008 and forecasted that PV-solar-cell revenues will
decrease by more than 50% in 2009.
Applied, considered a leader in the PV space, recently presented
at the 24th EU (European Union) Photovoltaic Solar Energy
Conference where executives including Chairman and CEO Mike
Splinter discussed the obstacles solar faced in 2009 and how the
industry can industrialize solar through scale and technology.
Executives also discussed Applied's solar plans focused on
delivering profitable growth. Splinter identified China as having
solid solar market growth potential in his presentation.
"This [centre's] opening represents a critical breakthrough for
the photovoltaic industry and China and a tremendous benefit to our
customers," said Splinter in a statement on today's news.
"Establishing this centre in China is an integral part of Applied's
global strategy and an important step toward the industrialization
of the global solar industry."
The Applied centre is comprised of laboratory and office
buildings covering more than 400,000-square feet and contains an
Applied SunFab thin-film manufacturing line and a complete
crystalline silicon pilot process, the Santa Clara, Calif-based
company said. Applied first broke ground in Xi'an in 2006 and the
total investment in the multiphase project is more than $250
million.
The completed facility includes a solar technology centre for
R&D, engineering, product demonstration, testing, and training
for crystalline silicon and thin-film solar module manufacturing
equipment and processes. According to Applied, the centre has the
largest solar array in Xi'an, a 56 kW array on a parking lot
structure.
"We believe this technology centre will provide important
contributions to driving down the cost of solar around the world,"
Mark Pinto, Applied's CTO, said in the statement. "In addition to
housing Applied's state-of-the-art research into solar
manufacturing techniques, customers and potential customers from
around the world will be able to work side-by-side with our
technologists to reduce their time to market and improve factory
productivity and cell efficiency."
Applied, which has worked in China for 25 years and has more
than 800 employees and 13 offices in the country, also has business
and research centres in Europe, Taiwan, Korea, the United States,
and Japan, among other global locations.
By Suzanne Deffree, Managing Editor, News - Electronic News
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