Oerlikon estimates the price for the complete end-to-end a_Si production line is now US$1/Wp - including engineering support and performance guarantees.

"Key improvements in the 2nd generation ThinFab include increased manufacturing line output, guaranteed higher module efficiency and new narrow-gap reactor design for silicon deposition," according to the company.

The new ThinFab will be officially launched at the World Future Energy Summit 2012 (WFES) in Abu Dhabi.