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Smit Ovens has signed a deal to supply Taiwan-based Jenn Feng Industrial with thermal process solutions for the mass production of thin-film PV cells. Smit Ovens will provide Jenn Feng Industrial with equipment and non-vacuum processes in order to manufacture CIGS PV cells, implementing nanoparticle precursors in the selenization process.

This will help Jenn Feng Industrial reach its goal of beginning mass production of thin-film CIGS cells and modules this year, with an annual capacity of 35MWp.

"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,” commented Wiro Zijlmans, CEO of Smit Ovens. “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."

"We expect huge growth in solar energy and are keen to ramp up output quickly," stated 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."