Edwards process enabling systems help drive down the cost-per-watt of solar cell manufacturing
WILMINGTON, MASS ( 4 September 2007)-Edwards, a leading global supplier of vacuum, abatement and chemical management equipment and services, today announced the sale of multiple exhaust abatement systems to Advent Solar, Inc., a manufacturer of advanced solar cell and module technology. Edwards Hot Oxidation Systems (HOx) will be used by Advent Solar for abatement of PECVD exhaust gases during solar cell manufacturing at its Albuquerque, New Mexico plant.
"We selected Edwards because it offered the most cost-effective, non-fuel abatement solution, combined with a well-established, global service and support infrastructure," said Doug Podzemny, Engineering Equipment Manager, Advent Solar, Inc. "This will complement our mission to provide low cost, efficient solar cells to our customers."
According to Edwards' Chief Executive Officer, Nigel Hunton, "Edwards is an established leader in the supply of vacuum and abatement subsystems to the semiconductor and flat panel industries; we are leveraging our advanced portfolio of process vacuum and abatement technologies, combined with our global service capability, to serve the solar market. We look forward to rolling out new products over the coming year that will be focused on helping to drive down the cost per watt of crystalline silicon (c-Si) and thin film PV solar cell manufacturing."
Edwards Hot Oxidation (HOx) system provides low cost, high performance point-of-use abatement for CVD solar and semiconductor processes. It is a low power, electrically heated exhaust gas abatement system, that incorporates self-cleaning inlets and established three stage wet scrubber technology for the effective treatment of toxic and corrosive gases. The HOx complements Edwards line of fuel fired thermal abatement systems.
"With over 3000 electrically and fuel fired systems installed world-wide, the HOx system has been designed for maximum uptime, which in turn, maximizes the PECVD tool's throughput and drives down overall production costs. This is particularly critical for the manufacture of solar cells, where there is market pressure to reduce the cost per watt," added Hunton.
The HOx system can work in parallel with Edwards Wet Electrostatic Precipitator (WESP) for the efficient removal of particles downstream of the abatement system. The WESP transfers the particles into a water stream without generating significant backpressure, and can be used in conjunction with most abatement systems. It is especially useful for 300mm CVD, FPD, solar cell, and MOCVD processes.
The HOx systems will ship to Advent Solar in September 2007. For more information about Edwards please visit booth Hall 20/C21 at the EUPVSEC in Milan, Italy, September 3-6, or booth 903 at Solar Power 2007, taking place September 24-27, 2007 in Long Beach, Calif. For further information about Advent Solar please visit booth Hall 16/F14 at the EUPVSEC in Milan, or booth 1004 at Solar Power 2007.
Editor Background
About Edwards
Edwards (formerly BOC Edwards) is a leading supplier of integrated solutions for the manufacture of semiconductors, flat panel displays, LEDs and solar cells. It is also a world leader in vacuum technology for industrial, scientific, process and R&D applications. Edwards employs around 4,000 people globally in the design, manufacture and support of high technology vacuum and abatement equipment. Edwards invented the concept of the low-maintenance, cost-effective commercial oil-free 'dry' vacuum pump, and now supplements this with a wide range of other pumping technologies as well as related products and services.
About Advent Solar
Advent Solar, Inc. is a leading manufacturer of innovative solar cells and modules. Its unique, exclusive EWT cell technology was originally developed at Sandia National Laboratories and is in a class of solar cells referred to as back-contact cells. This technology is the basis for Advent's high performance products with the potential for dramatically lower cost than conventional solar photovoltaic technology.
Company Contact: Andrew Davis +44 (0) 1293 603507 e-mail: pressandmedia@edwardsvacuum.com
Agency Contact: Sandy Fewkes +1-408-224-4024 e-mail: sandy@mind-write.com Company Information: Name: Edwards Vacuum Technology Address: 301 Ballardvale St. City: Wilmington State: MA ZIP: 01887 Country: USA Phone: 978-658-5410 FAX: 978-657-6546 http://www.edwardsvacuum.com
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