Taiwan chalked up a significant breakthrough in solar cell manufacturing Aug. 22 following the unveiling of its first homegrown roll-to-roll sputtering machine, according to the Ministry of Economic Affairs.
“The prototype will slash manufacturing costs by a third while satisfying international environmental protection standards,” MOEA officials said. “We expect this machine to give local firms a competitive edge by 2012.”
According to the ministry, environmentally friendly roll-to-roll vacuum deposition systems are utilized worldwide by major manufacturers to apply photovoltaic coatings in a low-cost and efficient manner. The technology is rarely used in Taiwan due to the exorbitant price of the machine and complicated manufacturing process.
MOEA officials estimate that the locally made device will cost NT$30 million (US$1.03 million) and NT$80 per sputtered square meter; this compares to NT$600 million and NT$240 for comparable machines from abroad.
Developed under a public-private sector program overseen by the MOEA, the roll-to-roll sputtering machine represents ongoing efforts to bolster Taiwan’s solar energy industry in the global market, officials said.
