Gadir Solar has selected Air Products to supply turnkey gas systems as well as bulk and speciality gases to its new a-Si thin-film manufacturing plant, supplied by Oerlikon Solar. The contract includes the long-term supply of nitrogen, hydrogen, argon, oxygen, and specialty gases such as silane, NF3 (nitrogen trifluoride), and dopant gases as well as the installation and operation of the complete gas distribution system from the source containers to the point of use.
"We chose Air Products for their reliability, safety record, engineering expertise and experience on the Thin-Film PV platform technology," commented David Naranjo, CEO of Gadir Solar. "We have aggressive growth plans and we feel Air Products is the right business partner to meet our needs."
"Our cost roadmap and partnership approach allows customers to leverage our technology expertise, which includes everything from dopant blenders and gas cabinets to on-site services and a wide range of specialty gases, which includes our on-site fluorine and NF3 solutions," noted Jeff Handelman, Air Products General Manager, Photovoltaics. "We are committed to achieving the lowest cost of ownership for our customers and assist them to reach the overall industry goal of grid parity."
Gadir Solar is currently establishing a new thin-film facility in Puerto Real, Cadiz, Spain. Initial production of over 300,000 panels per year was set last year when Oerlikon Solar announced Gadir Solar would be using its micromorph thin-film technology.