AUO Optronics to build 300MW Taiwan wafering plant

An AUO Optronics subsidiary has broken ground on its multicrystalline ingot and wafer production plant in Taiwan’s Chungkang Export Processing Zone.

The first phase expansion plan by AUO Crystal Corp is to build wafering capacity of 300MW. Financial expenditure details were not provided.

Though AUO Optronics has a JV manufacturing agreement with SunPower, the plan is to offer wafers for external sale. SunPower uses monocrystalline wafers for its high-efficiency cells. ACC expects approximately 1,000 jobs will be generated at the facility over the next three years.

“ACC is one of the few manufacturers in the solar industrial chain equipped with M.Setek’s high-quality polysilicon manufacturing technology, which can provide the total solution including polysilicon, ingot, and wafer to customers,” noted AUO Chairman, K.Y. Lee. “Incorporating M.Setek’s high-quality technology and solar talents from the upstream in Taiwan, ACC not only secures the high-end technology of producing monocrystalline ingots and wafers but also develops high-quality multicrystalline ingots and wafers with its own technologies. ACC will provide customers with even more diverse products and better services in the coming future.”

The facility is expected to be operational this year. The equipment move-in is scheduled to take place in August, 2010 with mass production planned in the fourth quarter of this year.