News

20 October 2008

 

Scheuten and Ritek form joint venture to make CIGS PVs

Crystalline silicon solar cell maker Scheuten Group of Venlo, The Netherlands and Taiwanese optical disc maker Ritek Corp have agreed to establish a 50:50 joint venture to manufacture thin-film copper indium gallium diselenide (CIGS) thin-film solar cells at a plant belonging to Ritek’s organic LED (OLED) subsidiary RiTdisplay in Hsin-Chu, Taiwan. Initial capital is NT$600m (US$18.6m).

Scheuten has developed thin-film CIGS solar technology, while Ritek has experience in CIGS coatings and in developing the corresponding equipment, thanks to the thin-film technology that is essential for its manufacturing of optical media and OLEDs.

The first production line is scheduled to enter operation by the end of 2008 with an annual capacity of 30MWp (megaWatt-peak). Capacity is planned to double in both 2009 and 2010 to 120MW (and then to be increased yet further, depending on demand).

Via Ritek’s glass substrate manufacturing spin-off AimCore Technology Co Ltd (in which Scheuten has a stake), Ritek first collaborated with Scheuten on downstream production of silicon-based solar cell modules. Then, this August, it agreed a second stage of strategic collaboration to act as Scheuten’s contract manufacturer of crystalline silicon-based solar modules, starting in fourth-quarter 2008 with an annual capacity of 30MW and rising to 200MW next year.

The new CIGS PV cell manufacturing joint venture represents a third stage of collaboration between Scheuten and Ritek.

See related item:

Thin film technology set to top 30% of solar cell market by 2015

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Visit: www.ritek.com

Visit: www.scheuten.com