LONDON — Italian alternative energy group Moncada s.r.l. (Aragona, Sicily) has become the latest to order Applied Materials' SunFab Thin Film Line, and will use the gear to establish its first photovoltaic (PV) module production facility.
The line ordered by privately held Moncada will produce large 5.7m2 single junction PV modules at a facility in Campofranco, Sicily, and is expected to have an annual rated capacity of 40MW.
The line will add to Moncada's existing power production capacity of more than 105MW in wind energy, and will expand Italy's growing infrastructure of renewable energy installations.
Moncada plans to use the SunFab-produced modules to build solar farms on some of the same land where its wind turbines are located, effectively double-harvesting its clean energy resources.
"We believe that the large 5.7 square meter modules produced by the SunFab line will enable lower production and installation costs, making them an excellent solution for quickly achieving grid parity in Italy," said Salvatore Moncada, CEO and founder of Moncada Energy Group. Moncada said that with the help of Applied (Santa Clara, Calif.) it expects to start PV module production in 2010.
Mark Pinto, senior vice president and general manager of Applied's Energy and Environmental Solutions Group commented in a statement : "We are excited to expand our role in Italy - which has the geographic potential to realize early grid parity - from supplying crystalline silicon equipment through our Baccini business to producing the world's largest thin film modules with our SunFab line."
Applied bought Treviso, Italy based Baccini SpA for $330 million in cash late last year.
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