AQT Solar, a developer of copper indium gallium diselenide (CIGS) thin-film solar cells, has opened a new fully operational facility in Sunnyvale, Calif. The facility has already begun production to fill current customer orders of 20 MW, with substantial purchase orders in the pipeline, the company says.
AQT also released the name of its first customer installation: Sol Pacifico, a large property development that has ordered 2 MW of energy to power its gated community in Baja, Mexico, on the Pacific coast. Construction is expected to begin in 2011.
AQT's new facility, fueled by a recent $10 million round of funding, currently houses a 15 MW manufacturing line, and can scale up to 60 MW of production capacity. The manufacturing line's modular design allowed for quick on-site deployment and is a result of the company's partnership with Intevac, a provider of manufacturing equipment, AQT Solar says.
The company adds that is currently evaluating sites for its second facility and expects to break ground on the new site early next year.
SOURCE: AQT Solar