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Academics upbeat on solar cell industry

The total production value of the nation's solar cell industry is estimated to reach NT$20 billion (US$605 million) to NT$25 billion by 2010, a four-fold expansion compared with the present value, academic sources said yesterday.

Officials at the Hsinchu-based Industrial Technology Research Institute (ITRI) said that thanks to a complete upstream-to-downstream production capacity, the solar cell industry had a good opportunity to engage in fast expansion along with the surging global demand for clean, renewable energy.

The current domestic production value of solar cells is about NT$5.6 billion, representing 6 percent of the global market.

Officials said that with the help of government funding -- including NT$16.5 billion in investment over the next five years, a favorable purchase price for solar energy at NT$10 per kilowatt-hour, and a 50 percent subsidy for solar energy equipment, the nation's total production capacity could top 280 megawatts by 2010, with an estimated market value of NT$20 billion to NT$25 billion.

The nation's global market share will have expanded to 15 percent to 20 percent by that time, they predicted.

Major local solar cell makers include Motech Industries Inc (茂迪) and E-ton Solar Tech Co (益通光能).

E-ton announced on Monday that it would collaborate with the University of New South Wales in Australia to improve power conversion rates of solar cells.
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