October 30, 2007 – Some Taiwan solar cell makers reportedly are considering giving up thin-film solar cells because the technology is too daunting and hard to financially support, according to a Digitimes report.

So far, nine Taiwan-based companies claim to be working on thin-film technologies, but “sources” indicate that progressing the technology beyond current 5%-8% efficiency to desired levels of 12%-13% to compete with silicon-based cells requires huge financial investments, and some firms are just giving up.

Digitimes cited comments from Simon Tsuo, president of Motech Industries (which is not developing thin-film cells), that with current conversion % levels, nobody would want thin-film cells even if they were free; plus they are hard to produce in volumes, he adds.