The Masdar Initiative, based in the United Arab Emirates, has announced an investment in thin-film photovoltaic solar technology that exceeds $2 billion. The funds will be used to support a three-phase manufacturing and expansion strategy to produce the latest generation of thin-film photovoltaic modules.
The first phase involves an investment of $600 million, which will fund the development of two manufacturing facilities. The first, in Erfurt, Germany, will be operational by the third quarter of 2009, and a second facility in Abu Dhabi will begin initial production by the second quarter of 2010.
Masdar says the combined annual production capacity of these two sites will be 210 MW, and the facilities' output will be committed to major PV system installers in Europe and for Masdar's own energy-generation needs.
Applied Materials has contracted with Masdar to deliver three of its SunFab Thin Film Lines to support the new manufacturing operations.
SOURCE: Masdar, Applied Materials
