Photovoltaic power Generation: film, silicon who is the protagonists

Cao Kai in the growing sophistication of crystalline silicon solar power plants, thin-film solar cells are vying for this potentially huge market.　　And behind the rivalry between the two technologies, there is competition among international solar-cell equipment manufacturers such as the American Applied Materials company and the Swiss Oerlikon solar company. May 26, the adoption of the United States Applied Materials company equipment, new Austrian Photovoltaic Energy Co., Ltd. won the bid for Inner Mongolia solar power plant, using the thin film battery.　　Prior to the Dunhuang, Wuxi and other domestic solar power plants using crystalline silicon solar cells for power generation. "This is currently the largest amorphous silicon thin film battery power generation project in China." "The National Development and Reform Commission Energy Research Institute deputy director Li told the first financial daily."　　This is also the domestic first thin film battery power generation project.　　Thin film battery advantage gradually lose?　　New Austrian photovoltaic project, by the China Energy Conservation and Environmental Protection Group Investment, the first phase of the project is 10MW, respectively, 5MW thin film batteries and 5MW crystalline silicon batteries.　　Shao Jinsong, Director of the Asia-Pacific channel for Applied Materials, told the newspaper that thin-film batteries are more suitable for solar power plants than crystalline silicon batteries. "But I do not deny the advantages of the crystalline silicon battery, in fact, each of the two batteries have advantages and disadvantages."　　"The power generation efficiency of the crystalline silicon battery is higher, but the cost is very high," said Shao Jinsong. "Thin-film solar cell power generation efficiency is lower, but the cost is relatively low." Yiupeng, president of LDK Solar Company, Jiangxi, agrees with Shao Jinsong. "Some people think of these two technologies as competitive technologies, not in fact."　　"Yiupeng told the newspaper, thin-film batteries with weak light application and strong adaptability of the characteristics of temperature, large-scale use in desert power plants, as well as land resources rich or large temperature difference area of power plant construction, in addition to glass curtain wall is mainly the use of thin-film batteries, and urban roof projects, high efficiency requirements for power generation, so the main or using crystalline silicon batteries.　　However, Hou Wentao, an analyst with the securities market, said that with the decline of polysilicon prices, thin-film solar cells in the cost and the crystalline silicon battery has not much advantage.　　Before the financial crisis, polysilicon prices soared, in order to deal with the high cost of polysilicon pressure, LDK and other domestic solar companies began to launch thin film Battery project.　　2007, the global Thin film solar cell production reached 400MW, the 2006 181MW significantly increased by 120%; 2008 Global Thin film solar cell production reached 892MW, an increase of 123%. After several years of rapid development, thin-film solar cell market began to cool gradually.　　In the first quarter of this year, Oerlikon sales dropped to 39 million Swiss francs (about 33.9885 million U.S. dollars), down 24% per cent, and the first-quarter orders were only 8 million Swiss francs (about $6.972 million), down 27%. Equipment giants vie for the Chinese market although domestic companies such as LDK and Suntech have become the biggest beneficiaries of the solar explosion, the global industrial chain, Oerlikon, the U.S. Applied Materials Corp., the U.S. Gtsolar and other solar cell equipment manufacturers have made more profits.　　American Applied Materials company insiders told the newspaper, a set of thin film battery production equipment needs hundreds of millions of yuan.　　Now, these companies are gradually shifting their focus to the Chinese market. 2006, the U.S. Applied Materials company into the solar PV market. In order to open up the Chinese market, the company's executive vice president, chief Technical Officer Pinto (Mark R. Pinto,ph.d).　　) has been resident in China since January this year.　　At present, the company and Oerlikon become the world's largest two thin film battery equipment manufacturers. The U.S. Applied Materials company is engaged in the production of crystalline silicon battery manufacturing equipment, but also engaged in the manufacture of thin-film battery equipment. "We have 75% of our orders for crystalline silicon manufacturing equipment from China," Pinto told the newspaper.　　"In order to better seize the market, the U.S. Applied Materials Company in XI ' an deliberately set up a research and development center."　　Earlier this month, at the Shanghai PV Conference, gtsolar company president Tom Gutierrez also told the newspaper, its company accounted for polycrystalline silicon wafer equipment (ingot furnace) 70% domestic share. The same is true for Oerlikon, which has fallen sharply in the first quarter of this year. Jürg Henz, chief executive of Oerlikon, said in an interview: "China is our first important market, although we now have some customers in Germany and in southern Europe, but we are very optimistic about the Chinese market." "Currently, Oerlikon has 12 customers worldwide, including two in mainland China, two in Taiwan, three in Germany and three in southern Europe," said the company.