Auria Solar collaborates with Mitsubishi in micromorph project

Auria Solar is negotiating with Mitsubishi Heavy Industries to establish a 65.3 MW ‘micromorph’ thin-film PV module production line in Taiwan.

Auria Solar had originally used Oerlikon Solar’s micromorph technology to establish a 60MW line in Taiwan in June, 2009. The potential collaboration with MHI would include equipment and processes developed by both parties that 11% effective cell efficiencies could be achieved.

Auria Solar noted that plasma CVD technology developed by MHI had the highest recorded deposition rates, while its own in-house TCO process was low cost and efficient using a glass substrate, procured locally.

The company claimed it was fabricating cell efficiencies of 10.5 per cent and module efficiencies of 10 per cent. Emphasis was also placed on the cost reduction benefits the partnership could bring.

The companies were also planning to collaborate on sales and distribution to target emerging markets best suited to the technology, such as the inner part of China, India, South East Asia, Southern parts of US, and the Middle East.