DuPont said that its DuPont Apollo amorphous silicon (a-Si) thin-film module manufacturing subsidiary’s operations would be permanently closed by the end of 2014.
The company said that it would provide modules to customers under contractual obligations before shuttering the operations in Hong Kong and Shenzhen, China.
Try Premium for just $1
- Full premium access for the first month at only $1
- Converts to an annual rate after 30 days unless cancelled
- Cancel anytime during the trial period
Premium Benefits
- Expert industry analysis and interviews
- Digital access to PV Tech Power journal
- Exclusive event discounts
Or get the full Premium subscription right away
Or continue reading this article for free
Once, a-Si thin-film was hailed as a key new technology for the PV industry, unshackled from sky-rocketing polysilicon prices and the promise of the lowest cost-per-watt in the industry, which attracted numerous companies to enter the market using turnkey production lines.
However, almost all of the a-Si suppliers have gone bankrupt or shuttered operations in recent years, driven by a plummet in polysilicon prices and lack of ability to lower manufacturing costs and improve module conversion efficiencies.
The financial implications of the closures were not disclosed.