SANTA CLARA, Calif.--(BUSINESS WIRE)--Jan. 15, 2009--Applied Materials, Inc. announced today that both the single and tandem
junction solar photovoltaic (PV) modules produced by its SunFab(TM)
Thin Film Line have met the stringent requirements of the International
Electrotechnical Commission (IEC) standards 61646 and 61730, certifying
that these modules will meet performance and safety specifications under
challenging environmental conditions. The certification enables
Applied's SunFab line customers to accelerate the IEC process,
dramatically reducing time-to-market for their higher-value, fully
certified modules.
"IEC certification is recognized around the world as the gold standard
for solar PV," said Dr. Randhir Thakur, senior vice president and
general manager of Applied Materials' SunFab Thin Film Solar and Display
Business Group. "Achieving this milestone demonstrates our commitment to
enabling our customers' success and validates the performance of our
single and tandem junction technologies and integrated production line
processes."
To be awarded certification, the IEC standards subject PV modules to a
series of harsh tests designed to simulate years of exposure to
sunlight, extreme temperatures, wind and precipitation -- factors that
can impact long-term reliability. The IEC 61646 standard for thin film
modules tests environmental conditions and power output, while the IEC
61730 standard mandates additional electrical and environmental testing
to provide assurance of safe operation of a module throughout its
expected lifetime.
The rigorous testing and certification of the SunFab modules was
conducted by TUV Saarland of Germany, and covers both single junction
and higher-efficiency tandem junction modules in what is currently the
most commonly installed size (1.1m x 1.3m). Module manufacturers can
produce four panels of this size from each 5.7m2 substrate
processed by the SunFab line to achieve high production and cost
efficiencies. Certification of full size 5.7m2 modules, which
are ideally suited for utility-scale applications, is expected in the
first half of 2009.
The revolutionary Applied SunFab Thin Film Line, announced in 2007, can
be configured with single or tandem junction technology. The line is
designed to rapidly deploy solar manufacturing capacity and achieve the
lowest production cost per watt. Applied is currently ramping customer
factories around the globe, with six customers already producing panels.
Applied Materials, Inc. (Nasdaq:AMAT) is the global leader in
Nanomanufacturing Technology(TM) solutions with a broad portfolio of
innovative equipment, service and software products for the fabrication
of semiconductor chips, flat panel displays, solar photovoltaic cells,
flexible electronics and energy efficient glass. At Applied Materials,
we apply Nanomanufacturing Technology to improve the way people live.
Learn more at www.appliedmaterials.com.
CONTACT: Applied Materials, Inc.
Betty Newboe, 408-563-0647 (editorial/media)
Robert Friess, 408-986-7977 (financial community)
Source: Applied Materials, Inc.
