"We are already seeing significant market opportunities [in Southeast Asia] for our cutting-edge solar PV modules. Our decision to go with the clear market leader, Oerlikon Solar, is already paying dividends," says Ma Wenxue, General Manager, Baoding Tianwei SolarFilms Co.

"[This agreement] demonstrates both the rapidly-growing market for solar energy in the Asian market and the advantages offered by our own fast-ramp thin-film PV production technology," adds Jeannine Sargent, CEO, Oerlikon Solar.

At Tianwei SolarFilms, Oerlikon Solar has installed its amorph HIGH PERFORMANCE, a technology using a special high-performance front and back contact method in its production lines. A low pressure chemical vapour deposition (LPCVD) process is used to generate a transparent conductive oxide (TCO) layer, which is superior to conventional methods, according to Oerlikon Solar.

The light transmission and scattering properties of this layer are very important to achieve the efficiency with which the solar module is able to convert sunlight into electrical energy.