Singulus Technologies (Singulus), supplier of production equipment for silicon and thin-film solar cells, signed a framework agreement with M•Cells, one of the major solar cell producers from China, for the delivery of up to 16 vacuum coating machines. The contract between M•Cells and SINGULUS includes an option for the purchase of SINGULAR XP machines in the double-digit million range. The SINGULAR XP vacuum coating equipment is intended for the rear side passivation of crystalline PERC solar cells in the production of 500 MW highly efficient multi-cells. The delivery for the first machine to China is already scheduled for the 1stquarter 2014.
SINGULUS TECHNOLOGIES and M•Cells signed a respective framework agreement at SINGULUS’ site in Kahl am Main on September 12, 2013. For Dr.-Ing. Stefan Rinck, CEO of SINGULUS TECHNOLOGIES, and the Vice General Manager of M•Cells, Mr. Ximing Zhou, the cooperation in the area of solar cell production is an explicit goal for both companies.
The vacuum coating machine SINGULAR XP is intended for the passivation of cells’ rear side at M•Cells' factory in China. The SINGULAR XP is specifically designed for the production capacity of a typical cell production line. In addition, SINGULUS’ machine provides the advantage that the two layer systems required for the rear side passivation, aluminum oxide (AIOx) and silicon nitride (SiNx) can be applied without discontinuation of the vacuum. Due to its compact assembly the SINGULAR XP machine is ideally suited for the integration as an upgrade for existing cell production lines.
With the further increase of the present cell efficiency at M•Cells through the use of the SINGULAR XP, M•Cells’ competitiveness in the solar industry also improves. This should meet the Chinese government’s requirement of an efficiency of polycrystalline solar cells of at least 18 % in the future.
Dr.-Ing. Stefan Rinck comments: “The increase in efficiency of solar cells is extremely important. We are convinced that we will be able to combine the latest and cutting-edge technology from Germany with M•Cells’ know-how for a mutual success.” The Vice General Manager of M•Cells, Mr. Ximing Zhou, adds: “M•Cells has already reached important milestones in the area of multi-cell efficiency and I firmly believe that together with SINGULUS we will make rapid progress for M•Cells to continue its leading position in the international solar cell market.”
