Linde to supply gases to Italy's first thin-film solar module plant

26 May 2009 15:37  [Source: ICIS news]

LONDON (ICIS news)--Linde Gases has been awarded a contract by Moncada Energy Group to supply high-purity gases to Italy’s first thin-film solar module manufacturing plant in Campofranco, Sicily, the German industrial gases firm said on Tuesday.

Under this agreement, Linde Gas Italia would provide Moncada with turnkey installation of the plant’s bulk and specialty gases supply systems, the company said.

On an ongoing basis, it would also deliver nitrogen, hydrogen, silane and chamber cleaning gases for use in the production of thin-film solar cells.

“Our collaboration with Moncada echoes our commitment to deliver innovative environmentally friendly processes, and it also builds on our aim to make solar energy more affordable for mass consumption – at par with the grid,” said Fabrizio Elia, CEO of Linde Gas Italia.

Linde said it had developed a process that could replace the powerful greenhouse gas nitrogen trifluoride with pure fluorine, which does not contribute to global warming.

Moncada’s thin-film PV plant in Campofranco, which is due to become fully operational in 2010, will produce large 5.7 m² single-junction photovoltaic modules. The facility was expected to have an annual output capacity of 40MWp.

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By: Hilde Ovrebekk
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