Intevac - Equipment-Lieferant für neue CIGS-Technologie??? - 500 Beiträge pro Seite

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Das Konzept klingt erstmal clever:

Standard-Zellenformat
=> reduziert das scaling-up Problem
=>nutzen der etablierten c-Si Infrastruktur


AQT turns to hard-drive maker Intevac for cheaper solar cells
April 7, 2010 | Camille Ricketts | Add a Comment |
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Applied Quantum Technology (AQT) said today that it is overcoming one of the major hurdles standing between thin-film solar innovation and mass commercialization: cost. It has joined forces with Intevac, maker of equipment used to build hard drives, to turn out solar cells in higher and cheaper volumes.

Despite so many companies pouring hours of research and development into perfecting thin-film solar cells, the industry has very little to show for it. All of these companies, including First Solar, Miasolé, and Nansolar — with hundreds of millions in capital raised between them — have failed to cost-effectively design and build high-volume manufacturing equipment. AQT says it will skip this step by borrowing the technology.

By not focusing on building its own manufacturing equipment, the company has positioned itself as one of the most capital efficient choices for investors in the thin-film market. It also says it won’t be passing the high costs of producing its own equipment to its customers, making the whole solar supply chain more affordable.

And now it’s raised $10 million from STPV Holdings to further its strategy. Using off-the-shelf machinery produced by Intevac, tailored specifically for the production of thin-film solar cells, the company plans to bring a new manufacturing facility online by the end of 2010.

Like many of the other thin-film solar players, AQT is making its cells out of copper, indium, selenium and selenide (CIGS), a concoction that’s cheaper than pricey crystalline silicon, but less efficient at converting sunlight into energy. AQT estimates its cells’ conversion rate around 14 percent — but they will be about 30 percent cheaper than their polysilicon peers.

The deal with Intevac is not exclusive — meaning the hard drive equipment maker could eventually sell the same equipment to other solar companies. But AQT says its adjustments to the machinery are what make it so effective and that it’s not worried about competitors adopting the same process. Two of its competitors, Miasolé and XsunX, are trying something similar, as Greentech Media points out, but they haven’t publicized any results.

AQT says it is using its new round of funding to buy enough equipment from Intevac to produce 15-megawatts worth of thin-film solar material. It will also expand its staff to handle ramped up operations.

Based in Santa Clara, Calif., with 15 employees, AQT is backed by several undisclosed investors, in addition to STPV.

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Intevac, Inc. (Nasdaq:IVAC) today reported financial results for the quarter and six months ended July 3, 2010.

Highlights for the second quarter include:

* Total revenues of $68.6 million, up 457% year-on-year and 107% quarter-on-quarter
* Gross margin of 42.3% and operating margin of 21.1%
* Sixth consecutive quarter of revenue growth for Intevac Photonics
* Favorable resolution of Auction Rate Securities arbitration

"We are pleased to report strong financial results for the second quarter that exceeded our earnings per share guidance and met the high end of our revenue guidance," commented Kevin Fairbairn, president and chief executive officer of Intevac. "The company's strong operational performance during this significant ramp enabled a more than doubling of revenues over the first quarter. We shipped twelve 200 Lean® systems, a level we have not experienced since early 2007. The hard disk drive industry saw a return to normal seasonality in the second quarter, and the outlook for our media equipment business remains positive for the remainder of the year and into 2011.

"Also in the second quarter, we continued to make progress in expanding our served markets. We shipped our first LEAN SOLARTM deposition system, introduced NanoVistaTM, a solar cell inspection system, and introduced ContinuumTM, a high-productivity wafer handling system. Our Photonics revenue grew 13% quarter-on-quarter and 37% year-on-year, setting another record high in revenues," concluded Mr. Fairbairn.

"We recently announced the favorable resolution of our Auction Rate Securities ("ARS") arbitration," commented Jeff Andreson, Intevac's chief financial officer. "The award entered by an arbitration panel of the Financial Industry Regulatory Authority ("FINRA") required Citigroup to repurchase at par $54.8 million in Student Loan ARS. The repurchase was completed and, as a result, our third quarter results will reflect a $3.3 million temporary impairment reversal as well as the addition to our cash balance."

Second Quarter 2010 Summary

Net income was $12.3 million, or $0.54 per diluted share, compared to a net loss of $4.5 million, or $0.20 per diluted share, in the second quarter of 2009.

Revenues were $68.6 million, including $60.0 million of Equipment revenues and Intevac Photonics revenues of $8.6 million. Equipment revenues consisted of twelve 200 Lean systems, upgrades, spares and service. Intevac Photonics revenues consisted of $4.6 million of research and development contracts and a record $3.9 million of product sales or 46.0% of Photonics revenues. In the second quarter of 2009, revenues were $12.3 million, including $6.1 million of Equipment revenues and Intevac Photonics revenues of $6.3 million, which included $2.9 million of product sales.

Equipment gross margin improved to 44.9%, compared to 39.2% in the second quarter of 2009, primarily as a result of increased revenues and improved factory utilization. Intevac Photonics gross margin of 24.2% decreased compared to 34.1% in the second quarter of 2009, reflecting higher costs as we ramp to high-volume production our digital night-vision camera module to our NATO customer and lower margins on technology development programs. Consolidated gross margin increased to 42.3%, compared to 36.6% in the second quarter of 2009. Operating expenses were $14.6 million, compared to $12.8 million in the second quarter of 2009.

Order backlog totaled $113.8 million on July 3, 2010, compared to $152.3 million on April 3, 2010 and $44.0 million on June 27, 2009. Backlog as of July 3, 2010 includes fourteen 200 Lean systems, compared to twenty-six on April 3, 2010 and five on June 27, 2009.

First Six Months 2010 Summary

Net income was $13.8 million, or $0.60 per diluted share, compared to a net loss of $10.3 million, or $0.47 per diluted share, for the first six months of 2009.

Revenues were $101.7 million, including $85.6 million of Equipment revenues and Intevac Photonics revenues of $16.2 million, compared to revenues of $24.6 million, including $12.2 million of Equipment revenues and Intevac Photonics revenues of $12.4 million, for the first six months of 2009.

Equipment gross margin improved to 46.1%, compared to 34.5% in the first six months of 2009, primarily as a result of increased revenues and improved factory utilization. Intevac Photonics gross margin of 25.4% decreased compared to 36.7% in the first six months of 2009, reflecting higher costs as we ramp to high-volume production our digital night-vision camera module to our NATO customer and lower margins on technology development programs. Consolidated gross margin increased to 42.8%, compared to 35.6% in the first six months of 2009. Operating expenses were $27.7 million, compared to $26.5 million in the first six months of 2009.

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AQT Solar Compact CIGS Plant Could Supply 60MW of Energy
Aug 16, 2010
The firm’s new Californian facility is already producing 2MW worth of energy to Sol Pacifico. It says the small footprint of each of its machine provides an efficient use of space within the 20,000 square foot facility, outrivaling its closest competitors.

AQT Solar, a major developer of low-cost CIGS (copper-indium-gallium-diselenide) thin-film solar cells has opened a new fully-operational facility in Sunnyvale, California.

The facility has already begun production to fill current customer orders of 20 MW, with substantial purchase orders in the pipeline. AQT also released the name of its first customer installation, Sol Pacifico, a large property development, which has ordered 2 MW of energy to power its gated community in Baja Mexico, on the Pacific coast.

AQT’s claims its rapid path from inception to production in two years is unprecedented in the solar industry, and illustrates how its technology and business model, dubbed CIGS 2.0, are charting new territory in the market.

AQT’s new facility, fueledby a recent $10 million round of funding, currently houses a 15 MW manufacturing line, and can easily scale up to 60 MW of production capacity. The manufacturing line’s modular design allowed for quick on-site deployment and is a result of the company’s partnership with Intevac, a leader in high-productivity manufacturing equipment.

The preparation, build-out, line implementation and qualification, and production initiation was completed for the Sunnyvale location in less than eight weeks. The small footprint of each highly-automated machine provides an efficient use of space within the 20,000 square foot facility. As a result, AQT can produce up to 60 MW in an area many times smaller than its nearest competitors.

“Starting commercial production so early in our company’s lifecycle is a confirmation of our business model, the leverage we receive from world class partners like Intevac and our breakthrough CIGS production process,” said Michael Bartholomeusz, CEO of AQT. “We have set aggressive production goals for the remainder of 2010 and beyond and are excited to kick it off in California, the heart of the solar industry.”

AQT’s first installation, Sol Pacifico, is scheduled to break ground in 2011. The 2 MW project, which will potentially grow to 9 MW, will support a large high-end resort development in Baja Mexico. “This project represents a concerted effort at renewable and responsible resort development,” said Antonio Cordova, project manager, Sol Pacifico. “Our vision was of a sustainable and eco-friendly project and we are excited to work with AQT to make this vision a reality.”

AQT expects to move the company’s headquarters and research and development from its original location to the current site in August of this year. It expects to add 40 green jobs over the next six months in Silicon Valley. AQT Solar is currently engaged in site evaluation for its second high-volume facility and expects to break-ground on this site early next year.

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AQT Solar Announces First Customer Shipments; Innovative CIGS cell manufacturer achieves commercialization and revenue at unmatched pace


Business Wire
December 29, 2010

AQT Solar , a leading developer of low-cost CIGS (copper-indium-gallium-diselenide) thin-film solar cells, today announced the first shipment of modules containing AQT CIGS solar cells. The company also announced that it has shipped cells to several customers and currently has an order backlog of 160MW, approximately 50MW of which is due in 2011. This first shipment rounds out a year of rapid progress and growth for AQT, which included the grand opening of its fully-operational facility in Sunnyvale, California, in August of this year.

Module containing AQT CIGS cells. (Photo: Business Wire)

AQT achieved this commercial milestone in just two years and with a little over $20M in funding. This rapid path from inception to commercialization validates AQT's CIGS 2.0 model, a capitally efficient solution that leverages partnerships to reduce costs and time to market while increasing scalability and bankability. Between revenue and order pre-payments, the company is now generating cash and focusing on expansion.

"We set aggressive commercialization goals for 2010 and we achieved them, capped by the delivery of our first customer orders," said Michael Bartholomeusz, CEO, AQT Solar. "I am extremely proud of what our team has achieved to date and am confident as we enter into the New Year. 2011 and 2012 are going to be very important years for AQT as we transition past the inflection point from commercialization to high volume manufacturing."

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AQT opens second factory for thin-film CIGS production


By Iris Kuo at VentureBeat

Wed Jan 12, 2011 3:29pm EST

Thin-film solar cell maker AQT Solar announced today it will open a second manufacturing plant in Richland County, South Carolina to help fill its current order backlog of 160 megawatts.

The new facility is slated to start production of CIGS cells by the start of 2012, and eventually grow to 1 gigawatt of capacity by the end of 2014. CIGS, named for the copper, indium, gallium, and selenium compound used in the cells, is expected to be a far cheaper material than traditional silicon solar cells.

The plant will be built in phases, starting outfitting the facility with 30 to 40 megawatts of capacity this year to expand current capacity in order to fill the backlog. Its existing plant in Sunnyvale, Calif. opened last year with 15 megawatts of capacity and is planned to grow to 30 to 40 megawatts of capacity by the end of this year.

The company opened its first plant last August even as thin-film solar technology appeared to fall on hard times, with companies like Applied Materials and Suntech shutting down their thin-film fabs. AQT says it can compete on cost that rivals other CIGS makers. The predominant technology on the market is crystalline silicon, which Chinese solar panel makers have dominated that field in terms of price competition, fueled by strong subsidy support by the government.

CIGS technology became a hot concept a couple of years ago when silicon prices soared and entrepreneurs went looking for cost-saving technologies. But silicon prices have since stabilized, throwing thin-film players into a murky area (though it’s worth noting that top global manufacturer First Solar produces cadmium telluride thin-film panels). Thin-film technology yields smaller efficiencies compared to crystalline silicon (around 10 percent versus 20 percent); CIGS player MiaSole reported a bar-setting efficiency rate of 15.7 percent last month.

DOE loan chief Jonathan Silver pointed to U.S. thin-film solar companies like cadmium telluride thin-film outfit Abound Solar as example of how the U.S. will compete globally in solar. Last month, Abound got a $400 million DOE loan guarantee and raised $110 million in venture capital. Thin-film players like Oerlikon, Abound, MiaSole, Nanosolar and Solyndra are still in the game (Solyndra closed its first factory in November following a pulled IPO in June).

Last year marked a blockbuster year for the global solar industry, which grew more than 100 percent to 16.3 gigawatts, according to research company SolarBuzz, which expects 20.4 gigawatts to be installed this year thanks to some cutbacks on favorable solar policies from the strong market of Germany. Bloomberg New Energy Finance solar analyst Nathaniel Bullard predicts this will be a down year by solar standards — meaning 25 percent growth compared to the 40 to 100 percent growth seen in previous years.

“It will mean compressed margins for most of the large manufacturers, but it could also mean an increase in demand in the U.S.,” Bullard said.

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By Nilima Choudhury - 12 January 2012, 13:01In News, Thin Film, Power Generation, Finance
Unnamed investors plough US$18.7 million into AQT Solar


AQT’s products are made with copper, indium, gallium and selenium instead of silicon used in conventional solar cells.
Thin-film solar cells manufacturer AQT Solar has received US$18.7 million from investors to double production at its headquarters in Sunnyvale, California, US. Details of the investors have not been disclosed.

A spokesman said the funding will increase the capacity of the manufacturing site to 30MW per year.

The company’s products are made with copper, indium, gallium and selenium instead of silicon used in conventional solar cells. AQT claims its manufacturing is more efficient than competitors because it uses equipment used in the computer hard disk drive industry.

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Intevac Receives First Production Order for ENERGi Ion Implantation

http://finance.yahoo.com/news/intevac-receives-first-product…

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abgeschmiert...

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Antwort auf Beitrag Nr.: 47.698.479 von R-BgO am 04.09.14 20:39:50

noch nicht erholt...

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Antwort auf Beitrag Nr.: 52.062.920 von R-BgO am 26.03.16 10:05:13

jetzt aber:

seit November 2016 mehr als ver-2,5-facht

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Antwort auf Beitrag Nr.: 54.800.881 von R-BgO am 25.04.17 16:34:29

und wieder zurück...

https://seekingalpha.com/article/4172791-lost-year-intevac

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https://www.pv-tech.org/news/intevac-finally-recognises-reve…

"Specialist semiconductor and PV equipment supplier Intevac has said that it finally recognised into revenue on three of four ‘ENERGi’ solar ion implant tools, which had already been shipped to a PV manufacturing customer in China in the third quarter of 2017."