Tokyo Electron enters thin film PV equipment market

Facebook
Twitter
LinkedIn
Reddit
Email

Tokyo
Electron (TEL) has established a new business, Tokyo Electron PV
Limited, with Sharp Corporation to develop and commercialize high
throughput plasma CVD (Chemical Vapor Deposition) systems for the thin
film silicon photovoltaics market based on TEL’s experience in the
large flat panel display industry.

According to TEL, it had undertaken a detailed field review of the PV industry before deciding to enter the market. The manufacturing and sales of the equipment will be conducted solely by TEL, with the first shipments planned for 2009.

This article requires Premium SubscriptionBasic (FREE) Subscription

Unlock unlimited access for 12 whole months of distinctive global analysis

Photovoltaics International is now included.

  • Regular insight and analysis of the industry’s biggest developments
  • In-depth interviews with the industry’s leading figures
  • Unlimited digital access to the PV Tech Power journal catalogue
  • Unlimited digital access to the Photovoltaics International journal catalogue
  • Access to more than 1,000 technical papers
  • Discounts on Solar Media’s portfolio of events, in-person and virtual

Or continue reading this article for free

The move was not unexpected after the entry by rival Applied Materials into the PV market via both acquisitions and development of in-house technology leveraging its FPD experience, specifically for thin film PV applications.

TEL will own 51 percent of the new enterprise while Sharp will have a 49 percent stake. Both companies will share the RD&E of the plasma CVD systems.

The companies did not say whether other tools would be developed for thin film applications or whether tools would be developed for silicon cell-based applications.
 

Read Next

July 4, 2025
Chinese PV provider Skycorp Solar Group has announced a solar plant acquisition and development strategy following unanimous board approval.
July 4, 2025
Germany’s latest innovation tender has awarded 488MW of co-located capacity, with all the projects being solar PV tied with energy storage.
July 4, 2025
Risen Energy’s mass-produced heterojunction (HJT) modules have reached a cell conversion efficiency of 26.61%, a record figure for the company.
July 4, 2025
The US House of Representatives has passed the final version of the reconciliation bill that is now going to US President Donald Trump’s desk for his signature before its passing.
July 4, 2025
Australian retailer AGL Energy has confirmed its acquisition of South Australia’s Virtual Power Plant (SAVPP) from Tesla.
July 3, 2025
Renewable energy curtailment in Brazil is set to reach 8% across the country, and be as high as 11% in the north-east, by 2035.

Subscribe to Newsletter

Upcoming Events

Media Partners, Solar Media Events
September 2, 2025
Mexico City, Mexico
Solar Media Events
September 16, 2025
Athens, Greece
Solar Media Events
September 22, 2025
Bilbao, Spain
Solar Media Events
September 30, 2025
Seattle, USA
Solar Media Events
October 1, 2025
London, UK