Oerlikon Solar plans PV tech development with China's CRES

December 9, 2011 -- Oerlikon Solar will work with the International Cooperation Center for China Renewable Energy Society (CRES) to develop thin-film silicon solar cell technology in China, under a new memorandum of understanding (MOU).

Major goals include researching thin-film silicon photovoltaics for electricity generation; demonstration projects with CRES; and advising the Chinese government on solar policies. The MOU also suggests forums, such as the 2012 "Conference on Thin-Film Solar Power Cell Technology."

Oerlikon Solar is committed to lowering PV production costs and being competitive in the world's largest solar cell production region, said Oerlikon Group CEO Dr. Michael Buscher. The company has reduced solar module production costs to ?0.43/Wp (China) with its end-to-end manufacturing solution ThinFab.

Also read: Oerlikon Solar inks gas supply deal to cut PV module fab costs

While the market for photovoltaics products -- cells and modules -- is currently concentrated in Europe, the US, and Japan, Oerlikon Solar expects Asia's solar cell consumption to grow rapidly.

Professor Shi Dinghuan, Chairman of China Renewable Energy Society, noted that collaborations with international renewable energy enterprises will bring advanced technology and products to China, helping "promote China's renewable energy industry, and enhance the development and the application of renewable energy in China in a holistic way."

Oerlikon Solar has sold 870MW of manufacturing capacity (turnkey lines and equipment) to 15 customers in Europe and Asia. Six of these customers are manufacturing in China and 446MW of the 870MW contracted production capacity is already in annual mass production. More than 5M panels have been produced on Oerlikon Solar's equipment since 2006.

Oerlikon Solar offers equipment and turnkey manufacturing lines for the mass production of thin film silicon solar modules. Learn more at www.oerlikon.com.

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