Auria Solar and Mitsubishi Heavy Industries enter into MOU for business co-operation in Auria's new expansion project

AUSTRIA: Auria and MHI agreed to enter into further discussion for a possible business co-operation (including equity participation) between the two companies in development, production and sales of thin-film PV modules.

The co-operation aims to first establish a new 65.3 MW micromorph thin-film PV module
production line in Taiwan with proven high effective cell efficiency of 10.5 percent (1.1M X1.3M) and module efficiency of 10 percent.

Further, Auria plans to keep expanding its capacity to over 200MW in 2012 and establishes a more cost-competitive production structure.

Cost reduction is the key objective of the PV industry as it strives to position solar power as a low-cost choice for new energy capacity. With crystalline silicon cells making up to 80% of the PV energy capacity produced annually, fluctuations in supply and cost of polysilicon created a window of opportunity for thin film technology development especially after the Japanese earthquake catastrophe.

On one hand, MHI has a technological edge with its plasma CVD that can deposit the film on a module at the fastest rate in the world. On the other hand, Auria has its own in-house TCO which enables cost-efficient local bare glass sourcing and unique process technologies. By the optimal mix of MHI’s and Auria’s production facilities and combination of technologies, the development for 11 percent effective cell efficiency is promising in the near future and Auria will then further challenge the leading position of First Solar.

MHI and Auria will tie up their sales channels in order not only to maintain the existing Japanese and European market but also continue pursuing the growing foreign markets together especially the areas such as the inner part of China, India, South East Asia, Southern parts of US, and Middle East where the thin-film technology is most suitable.

MHI has global sales channels and recognized utility project scale expertise with solid business in Spain, Belgium, Italy, India, Taiwan Mexico, Brazil, Chile, etc. After the Fukushima nuclear crisis, the world has extensively acknowledged the risk of nuclear power and inquiries for clean energy have been raised sharply. Thus, the agreement between MHI and Auria can be understood as a stepping stone in finding the optimum joint business scheme.

Gaining momentum from the agreement on detailed discussions on collaboration, going forward Auria will further strengthen its competitiveness in the PV module business as it further accelerates dynamic business developments in the global market.