Jul

10

More Semicon Companies Switch Gear to Solar

Filed Under Semiconductor Industry, Video Gallery 

Amid the soaring oil prices and impending energy crisis, more semiconductor companies are investing in solar. For examples, the world number one microprocessor maker, Intel capital has announcement its $38 million investment in Berlin-based solar module manufacturer Sulfurcell GmbH (Ref). This investment follows Intel last month surprising announcement to spin off a solar cell manufacturing company, SpectraWatt. Intel’s chip archrival IBM is also moving into the thin-film solar cell arena through a manufacturing partnership with TOK (Ref).

On the other hand, the world number one semiconductor equipment maker, Applied Material, has made one of its largest investment in Singapore. It broke ground for the construction of a new Singapore operations facility two days ago. The new 32,000 square meter operation facility in the Changi North Industrial Park will serve as a hub for Applied’s business activities throughout Asia. It is expected to be completed in late 2009. The building itself is solar-powered and capable of producing up to 350 kilowatts of energy or equivalent to powered 90 HDB homes (Ref). AMAT is also the first beneficiary of the newly launched Singpaore EDB’s Solar Capability Scheme (SCS). Applied already has a Singapore Building at the Changi Business Park and is expected to book nearly $1B in solar equipment orders this year (Ref). Below is an excellent marketing video from AMAT on solar manufacturing.

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