May 12 2008
Applied Materials, Inc. today announced another first for the solar industry with its SunFab Performance Service(TM) program. This unique service solution guarantees the performance cost and output of the Applied SunFab(TM) Thin Film Line for producing solar modules, enabling continuous cost reduction based on megawatt output. As the most comprehensive integrated support solution in the solar industry, the SunFab Performance Service allows customers to quickly ramp to volume production and optimize the efficiency and productivity of their SunFab(TM) Line.
Applied has signed a multiyear agreement to provide the SunFab Performance Service to T-Solar Global S.A. of Spain for the Applied SunFab Thin Film Line. Using 5.7m2 glass panels, the SunFab Line can reduce the cost of utility-scale photovoltaic installations by more than 20%. “Based on Applied’s proven track record of providing service and technology to the chip industry, we are very confident that we have made the best choice for this key project,” said Juan Laso, general manager of T-Solar.
As part of this service agreement, Applied will manage and optimize T-Solar’s SunFab Line performance with a wide variety of engineering, logistics, technology and automation software solutions. In addition to all preventive and corrective maintenance and complete parts management, Applied will provide continuous improvement programs and total factory optimization to enable low operating cost and on-going productivity gains.
“By entrusting the equipment, maintenance and performance of our solar production line to Applied, we are guaranteed specific results that minimize our risk, shorten our time to production, and meet our profit goals,” stated Cesar Alberte, fab director of T-Solar. “We view this as the most economic solution to running our solar fab that over time will allow us to drop the cost per watt of solar energy.”
“Guaranteeing performance through cost of operation and associated megawatt output represents a major shift from the traditional service model,” said Manfred Kerschbaum, senior vice president and general manager of Applied Global Services. “We are pleased to pioneer the way in providing customers like T-Solar with a comprehensive service program that represents a step function improvement in value and the most complete and dependable choice for maintaining and optimizing their investment.”
In 2007, T-Solar became the first company in Europe to order an Applied SunFab Thin Film production line. The line is expected to have a nominal rated capacity of 40 megawatts per year when fully operational, enabling T-Solar to capitalize on the rapidly expanding market in Spain for photovoltaic installations.