Feb 16 2009
Smit Ovens today announced that it has signed a deal to supply Taiwanese company, Jenn Feng Industrial, with thermal process solutions for mass production of thin film photovoltaic (PV) cells. Under the deal, Smit Ovens will provide equipment and non-vacuum processes for in-line manufacture of CIGS (copper-indium-gallium-selenide) PV cells, incorporating use of nanoparticle precursors in the selenization process.
Celibrating future. Min-Fu Jong CEO Jenn Feng Group, Michael van der Gugten Smit Ovens
As a specialist in thermal processes for high volume applications, Smit Ovens brings expertise which will help Jenn Feng in its ambition to move rapidly into full scale production. "We have been working with Jenn Feng on a CIGSSe development project since March 2008. And we are delighted this has contributed to the company's plans to scale up production for the global PV market. Thermal processes already help reduce manufacturing costs. Combining these with innovative techniques such as use of nanoparticle precursors is particularly exciting for cost-effective production of high-efficiency cells," says Wiro Zijlmans, CEO, Smit Ovens.
"We expect huge growth in solar energy and are keen to ramp up output quickly," says Min-Fu Jong, CEO of Jenn Feng Group. "With Smit Ovens as a partner, we have access to the company's proven experience in solar cell manufacturing and to tailor-made solutions for our production. We believe that this partnership will be an important element in our drive to provide PV cells and modules with 'grid parity' capability - producing electricity at comparable cost to fossil fuels - into more areas of the world."
Jenn Feng Industrial aims to start mass production of thin-film CIGS cells and modules in 2009, with an annual capacity of 35 MWp. This will enable the company to round out its PV portfolio, so it can offer customers a one-stop shop for high quality, turn-key solar solutions for commercial buildings, homes and power generation utilities.