October 22, 2007 – Sun Well Technology, a subsidiary of CMC Magnetics, has nearly completed construction of a thin-film solar cell production site in Taiwan, with volume production slated to start in 2Q08, notes a Digitimes report.

The site’s initial production line will handle glass substrate sizes of 1100 x 1300m; equipment is being supplied by Oerlikon, with small-volume trial production starting in 1Q08 and initial capacity of 15 peak MW. Sampling will start in 2Q08, and the company expects to turn a profit in 2009, the report notes.

CMC company spokesperson Yin-Yi Hsiao explained that the firm will apply its experience in sputtering technology to thin-film coating on optical glass, adding that supplier Oerlikon’s transparent conductive oxide (TCO) coating technology for better sunlight absorption “leads rivals in terms of overall technology by 1-1.5 years.” Power conversion efficiency of thin-film solar cells is averaging around 7% but the company hopes to achieve 9%-12% by eventually upgrading production to micromorph cells, which convert energy from red and near-infrared spectrum, increasing efficiency by ~30%, the paper notes.