Masdar, the wholly-owned initiative by the government of Abu Dhabi through Mubadala Development Co, announced at the end of May that Masdar PV would embark on a multi-billion dollar investment in thin-film photovoltaic solar technology, as part of its drive to become a world leader in alternative energy.
The total investment of approximately US$2 billion is said to represent one of the largest investments ever made in solar energy and will fund a three-phased manufacturing and expansion strategy to produce the latest generation of thin-film photovoltaic (PV) modules.
Out of the total planned investment, phase one of the project involves an investment of US$600 million, which will fund the development of two manufacturing facilities – the first, in Erfurt, Germany will be operational by Q3 2009, and a second facility in Abu Dhabi which will begin initial production by Q2 2010. The combined annual production capacity of these two sites will be 210 megawatts, which is committed to major PV system installers in Europe and for Masdar’s own energy generation needs.
Dr Sultan Al Jaber, CEO of Abu Dhabi Future Energy Company (Masdar), said: “Thin-film PV is a key part of our build-deploy-develop strategy to actively build a strong position in alternative energy. The investment in photovoltaic solar energy will complement Abu Dhabi’s existing energy market. Abu Dhabi is a global energy leader, so it makes sense to engage these new energy technologies to maintain leadership and become a global energy hub.
“This marks a major milestone for Masdar and Abu Dhabi. It will not only establish Masdar as a major global PV player, but will be the first high-tech semiconductor nano-manufacturing facility of its kind in the entire region, positioning Abu Dhabi as a developer and producer of clean technology.”
The plants will use the latest generation of equipment capable of high volume processing of ultra-large glass substrates which, at 5.7 m2, are eight times larger and five times more powerful than that of the current market leader. High volume manufacturing of thin film PV, which requires less than 1% of expensive semiconductor material compared to traditional PV, is key to rapidly driving down the cost of PV.
In addition to low-cost manufacturing, thin film PV reportedly requires only one year to pay back the carbon cost of producing these panels and maintenance costs are minimal. It is ideally suited for hot sunny climates, as well as for building-integrated solutions, known as BIPV. The Masdar Initiative, Abu Dhabi’s response to the need for cleaner future energy solutions, is the region’s leader in the research, development and deployment of renewable energy and sustainability related technologies.
The total investment of over US$2 billion in Masdar PV is one of the largest single equity commitments made to a solar manufacturing company.
