A startup thin-film solar company has attracted a lot of attention this week with the announcement that it has begun manufacturing in Sunnyvale, California, after spending just a fraction of the money spent by competitors.
The company makes CIGS solar cells in the same format as crystalline silicon cells, using machines designed to make hard disks for computers.
The common equipment brings down costs, and AQT can sell the cells to assembly companies that wire them using the same equipment they already use to make silicon-based modules.
AQT says it has only spent about $15 million in establishing 15 megawatts (MW) of production. The company already has 20 MW worth of orders, and CEO Michael Bartholomeusz hopes to ramp up to 60 MW next year.
Read additional coverage by Jonathan Fahey of Forbes at the link below.
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