The Hindu Business Line : Solar Semiconductor enters into supply pact with Motech

Hyderabad, May 8 Solar Semiconductor, a photovoltaic (PV) module manufacturer, and Motech Industries Inc, a global solar cell producer, have entered a long term partnership with business opportunity of Rs 1,440 crore.

With the tie-up with Motech, the world’s second largest solar cell manufacturer and having already forged an arrangement with QCells, the global leader in the area, Solar Semiconductor has long term manufacturing and supply contracts in place, said Mr Hari Surapaneni, Solar Semiconductor’s Chief Executive Officer.

Motech Industries would supply the solar cells to Solar Semiconductors, which in turn would make the solar PV modules in the Hyderabad manufacturing units, he said.

Manufacturing units

Solar Semiconductor has solar PV module manufacturing units in Hyderabad and another coming up in Fab City. The tie-up with Motech, the Taiwan-based company, was formalised in California, US on Wednesday.

The CEO of Motech , Dr Yuari-Huai Simon Tsuo, said India was likely to emerge a major growth centre for solar energy. While the growth in the Chinese market has been slow in the last 3-4 years, India was showing signs of acceleration. With an installed capacity of 176 MW, Motech sees big growth coming from Spain and Germany in 2008 and Italy and Greece in 2009. Its target for 2008 is to reach 280 MW, he told Business Line from California.

Material shortages, conversion efficiencies, and high cost of polysilicon which were responsible for higher costs of solar energy, are expected to ease in the coming few years with new developments coming in, he said.

The present cost of $3.50 to $4 per watt needs to be brought down to $2.50 for solar power to be very attractive and around 2010 that likelihood was high, he said.

On plans for India, he said that to have a manufacturing plant required two lines each of 60 MW capacity for economy of scale and business sense. At present, the situation does not exist, but in the long run we will come, he added.

More Stories on : Alliances & Joint Ventures | Hardware

Article E-Mail :: Comment :: Syndication :: Printer Friendly Page

Stories in this Section
ACC to hold cement prices for 2-3 months

Rakesh Jhunjhunwala to get 10% in Autoline Ind

Ashok Leyland Q4 net flat, to pay 150%

Tata Steel raises Rs 2,000 cr

Jubilant acquires Speciality Molecules

‘Heineken’s S&N buy will not trigger open offer’

India Cements takes Alagappa mines on lease

Tata Metaliks plans facilities in M.P., Karnataka

NRB opens facility in Uttarakhand

Solar Semiconductor enters into supply pact with Motech

Samtel, Thales tie up to make avionic systems