Despite the renewed competitive position of conventional crystalline solar modules, big corporations such as GE and TSMC are beginning to flex their muscles in the thin film PV space. After a appearing at this year's EU PVSEC for the first time to attract interest from European PV project developers and distributors, TSMC Solar is also using SPI 2011, being held next week in Dallas, Texas, to target the other key future market for its CIGSSe modules.
The subsidiary of leading semiconductor foundry, TSMC is almost ready to start ramping its first production plant, dubbed S-Fab in Taiwan.
In a worldwide exclusive interview with PV-Tech’s North American senior editor Tom Cheyney, TSMC Solar’s President, YC Chao discussed in detail the manufacturing plans for its CIGSSe modules.
The new six-story 700,000 square foot LEED-certified facility will eventuall have a Phase 1 capacity of 300MW per annum from an initial US$258 million investment, with production approachihng a nominal (Phase 1) 100MW next year.
TSMC Solar said that first commercial products are expected to be shipped in the first quarter of 2012, while California Energy Commission (CEC) listing is slated for mid-Q1 2012.
“Our mission is to drive high efficiency, differentiated CIGS technology that will make solar the energy source of choice,” commented Rick Tsai, chairman and CEO, TSMC Solar in a statement. “TSMC Solar's CIGS technology, state-of-the-art manufacturing and financial stability positions us to be an innovative force in the solar industry.”
