Oerlikon Solar announced that Gadir Solar’s fabrication plant in Spain is utilizing its amorphous thin film silicon photovoltaic technology. Oerlikon Solar is the leading supplier of production equipment for the manufacture of thin film silicon photovoltaic cells in the world. Gadir Solar’s facility began its commercial operations in October 2009.
Gadir Solar is increasing its production capacity rapidly to produce approximately half a million amorphous thin film silicon photovoltaic panels per annum, which is enough to meet the electricity needs of about 8,000 homes.
CEO of Cadmos / Gadir Solar, David Naranjo Villalonga, said the company chose Oerlikon Solar because of its proven capabilities to ramp up new thin film manufacturing plants in record time and within the allocated budget. In addition, Oerlikon Solar’s ability to meet Gadir Solar’s requirements and its clear upgrade plan to ensure cost competitiveness also helped to choose its technology, Villalonga said.
Oerlikon Solar is the first company to have IEC/TÜV Rheinland master certification for amorphous and micromorph thin film silicon solar technologies. The certificate assures that the modules produced by using Oerlikon’ technology are manufactured to the highest standards and capable of enduring most challenging environmental conditions. In December 2009, Gadir Solar received IEC/TÜV Rheinland certification for the combination of performance and durability.