|
Applied Materials moves in on hot solar power manufacturing market |
|
|
|
Sep 05, 2006 at 01:13 PM |
 The solar photovoltaic (PV) market has reached a new phase in its rapid growth that is currently above 40 percent per annum with the news that Applied Materials has entered the market with a range of manufacturing equipment and process technologies that are intended to significantly lower the cost of production and improve PV conversion efficiencies. If successful solar manufacturing will become even more viable as an alternative energy source furthering growth that could see the solar equipment industry become larger than the semiconductor equipment industry in only five years from now.
"The solar industry has reached the inflection point that Applied Materials has been waiting for, as solar customers seek economies of scale with suppliers who can better meet their needs for global support and who can provide advanced systems that meet technology, throughput, quality and yield goals," said Mike Splinter, president and CEO. "We plan to change the cost equation for solar power through adaptation of our existing technology and new innovation in order to help make solar a more meaningful contributor to the global energy supply."
Applied is chasing after an equipment market that it expects will to grow from approximately $1 billion in 2006 to more than $3 billion in 2010. However, the market for integrated production tools and processes could grow at a faster pace after 2010 as more polysilicon production comes on stream from both new and existing suppliers, which has been regarded as a major restriction to growth in the solar market so far.
"Our solar PV products, together with our roadmap for new technology and services, provide an exciting new growth engine for Applied Materials," said Mark Pinto, senior vice president and chief technology officer. "We have assembled a team of industry veterans who, combined with our global reach and technology leadership in semiconductors and flat panel display equipment, can enable customers to move through the expected transition from small-scale 20MW-40MW factories to sophisticated gigawatt-level facilities."
Indeed, the move to 100MW to 300MW manufacturing plants provides the right kind of equipment unit numbers Applied Materials needs to invest in product development and make a good return on investment. Previously the small scale plants (50MW) would have only required single digit tool units that cost in the region of $75 million in total, a far cry from the $3 billion investment required for a new 300mm semiconductor facility that also had little demand for upgrades or tool replacements.
Applied has formed a new dedicated unit under the leadership of Charles Gay who was brought into the company 6 months ago due to his 30 plus years of working within the solar industry. As VP of Applied Materials new Solar Business Group he is overseeing the development of the next generation solar tool platforms that combine Applied's flat panel experience with key elements from Applied Films, that Applied recently acquired. This is being coupled to Applied Materials process IP and tool assembly cost control expertise to provide new innovations for production as well as reduce equipment costs.
Applied is already supplying PVD and PECVD products to the solar market that includes,
Applied Materials' ATON in-line sputtering system as well as the new Aristo in-line PVD/CVD system and the SmartWeb PV roll-to-roll coater for flexible solar cell applications.
With large scale plants being built in North America, Europe and especially in Asia and China in particular, Applied believes that it can not only supply the right equipment but provide the type of service and support needed to meet the high throughput demands these new large scale facilities will require to be cost efficient.
Applied's aim is to significantly reduce the cost per watt of solar power and in so doing become the dominant equipment and process supplier to that industry.
|
News 