Applied Materials,
Inc. announced today that it has significantly lowered the cost for customers
to manufacture solar photovoltaic (PV) panels on its SunFab™ Thin Film
Line using its next-generation module technology. Executing on its aggressive
cost-cutting roadmap, Applied has leveraged economies of scale with leading
suppliers and has introduced key process efficiencies that reduce the cost of
materials by 22%. In addition, SunFab panels using these new materials and processes
have received IEC* certification for aperture area conversion efficiencies of
up to 9.7%, enabling customers to advance panel performance to this level without
requiring additional certification.
“This achievement demonstrates Applied’s ongoing commitment to
reducing the cost of manufacturing panels with our SunFab Thin Film Line to
$1/watt and below,” said Tom Lacey, vice president and general manager
of Applied Materials’ SunFab Thin Film Solar Group. “Applied Materials
has a unique ability to accelerate solar PV through its 5.7m2 panel size standard,
innovative technology and line performance improvements, and also through its
expanding global SunFab footprint that enables economies of scale by aggregating
the needs of multiple customers.”
In order to achieve these cost reductions, Applied worked with leading, high-quality
materials suppliers on behalf of its customers to secure lower pricing in key
raw materials such as transparent conductive glass and laminating films. Applied
also engineered and validated more efficient processes that significantly decrease
materials consumption.
Applied’s receipt of advance IEC certification for panels produced on
SunFab lines using this next-generation module package of materials and process
changes will help accelerate customers’ time to market for their new panels.
The IEC certification was awarded to both single and tandem junction modules
in all panel sizes by TÜV InterCert, demonstrating that, like the original
SunFab panels, modules produced with this next-generation technology can meet
performance and safety specifications under challenging environmental conditions.
Applied Materials, Inc. (Nasdaq:AMAT) is the global leader in Nanomanufacturing
Technology™ solutions with a broad portfolio of innovative equipment,
service and software products for the fabrication of semiconductor chips, flat
panel displays, solar photovoltaic cells, flexible electronics and energy efficient
glass. At Applied Materials, we apply Nanomanufacturing Technology to improve
the way people live.