Oerlikon Solar announced that Nano Solar Technology Ltd. (NST), a newly formed Russian high-tech firm, has ordered a 120-megawatts (MW) end-to-end Micromorph® line for production of thin film solar modules.
NST is a joint venture between Renova Group (W7A.BE) and the Russian Corporation of Nanotechnologies (Rusnano). With the envisaged production capacity of one million solar modules annually, this is the largest equipment order in the worldwide thin film silicon photovoltaic market in 2009 to-date, Oerlikon said in a release.
The equipment will be delivered in 2010 to the new site currently under construction in Novocheboksarsk (Chuvash Republic). The start of production is scheduled for 2011.
The order also encompasses a comprehensive multi-year service agreement, provided by Oerlikon Solar’s global customer support team.
Establishing production of thin film solar modules in the Chuvash Republic is part of Rusnano’s strategy to develop the high tech economy in Russia by co-investing in nanotechnology industry projects. Through acting as a catalyst for private co-investments, Rusnano aims at creating conditions favourable to developing cutting edge nanotechnology in Russia, the joint venture with Renova being a good example.
In addition to the planned production line from Oerlikon, Rusnano plans to set up a major research center that will focus on increasing the effectiveness of the solar modules in cooperation with the Ioffe Physical Technical Institute of the Russian Academy of Sciences.
"Russia and the Commonwealth of Independent States offer great market potential for Oerlikon in the medium and long-term," said Oerlikon CEO Dr. Uwe Krueger. Already today, the Oerlikon Segments Coating, Vacuum, Textile and Drive Systems are conducting business in Russia.
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