Masdar PV GmbH, a German PV manufacturer and solution provider, announced that it will close its amorphous silicon (a-Si) thin-film PV factory in Ichterhausen by the end of 2014.
Last month, DuPont decided to shut down its silicon thin-film operation this year due to a forecasted downturn of thin-film market. Tokyo Electron has also ended its Tandem technology development, which focuses on commercializing to improve silicon thin-film product efficiency. This became a crucial event that destroyed the future of thin-film manufacture. EnergyTrend pointed out in our analysis that the halting of new technology development by equipment manufacturers was actually a key factor of closing.
As another manufacturer that decides to end its thin-film operation, Masdar mentioned the difficulties in the PV industry. SolarServer cited Tushita Ranchan, Masdar PV’s CEO, that: “We have continued production at Masdar PV despite ongoing losses, in the hope that the situation will improve in the industry. Unfortunately, the situation has continued to deteriorate. We regret having to make this difficult decision.”
All Masdar’s 160 existing employees will be affected. The company hence starts to work with local authorities to find their workers options.