Applied Materials Opens China Solar R&D Centre
Applied Materials Inc. has started operations of an advanced solar research and demonstration facility in Xi'an, China. The company's solar technology centre claims to be the largest non-government solar energy research facility in the world. Covering more than 37,000m2, it includes laboratory and office buildings and an entire Applied SunFab thin film manufacturing line and a complete crystalline silicon pilot process. The lines are configured to closely simulate customer fabrication environments.
"This opening represents a critical breakthrough for the photovoltaic industry and China and a tremendous benefit to our customers," said Mike Splinter, chairman and CEO of Applied Materials. "Establishing this centre in China is an integral part of Applied's global strategy and an important step towards the industrialisation of the global solar industry."
Applied Materials is celebrating its 25th anniversary in China this year and now has more than 800 employees and 13 offices in the country, with approximately 300 employees in Xi'an. Applied first broke ground in Xi'an in 2006 and the total investment in the multi-phase project is more than Rs.1,220.39 crore ($250 million) dollars. The completed facility includes a solar technology centre for R&D, engineering, product demonstration, testing and training for crystalline silicon and thin film solar module manufacturing equipment and processes. Employees in the centre will work closely with local suppliers to test and qualify new materials and tools and evaluate potential new cost saving technologies. The centre has the largest solar array in Xi'an, a 56kW array on a car park structure.
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