Chip manufacturer moves into solar cells

Details: Category: Energy & Sustainability; 08 May 2008; 8249 views

Qimonda, a manufacturer of memory chips and Centrosolar Group, a German solar company, have announced they are to jointly build, equip and operate a solar cell manufacturing plant...

Qimonda, a manufacturer of memory chips and Centrosolar Group, a German solar company, have announced they are to jointly build, equip and operate a solar cell manufacturing plant.

The joint venture will produce solar cells based on silicon. In the planned cooperation, Qimonda will contribute its existing know-how in silicon-based mass production as well as important access to silicon supply. Centrosolar will contribute its expertise with solar systems and the sales and distribution of solar modules. The company will be based in Vila do Conde, Portugal and will initially invest Euro 70 million in the operation.

The move is interesting for telcos in emerging markets as it shows how leading technology companies are moving to address the increasing demand for solar power. The efficiency of solar cells has increased significantly during the last 5 years. They now achieve energy conversion rates of over 20% as compared to half that ten years ago. Solar cells provide power for base stations and other network equipment at off-grid locations and form an increasingly important part of telecom infrastructure.

The application of chip manufacturing techniques in the field of solar cell manufacturing will result in further falls in price as well as increased efficiency and broaden the range of telecom applications in emerging markets in particular.

"By entering the solar industry, we are addressing an attractive market with stable and high growth rates. We will leverage our core competencies in silicon-based, high-quality mass production to generate a new revenue stream for Qimonda," said Kin Wah Loh, President and Chief Executive Officer of Qimonda AG. "Together with our experienced solar partner Centrosolar we have developed a capital and resource efficient setup to start this promising new business."

Production at the new facility is scheduled to start in the second half of 2009 and it will have the capacity to turn out up to 30 million solar cells per year (equivalent to about 100 MegaWatt peak).

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