Posted: September 30, 2009

(Nanowerk News) Air Products today announced it has signed, through its subsidiary Air Products San Fu Co. Ltd. in Taiwan, a long-term contract to provide nitrogen to NexPower Technology Corporation (NexPower), at its new thin-film photovoltaic (PV) facility in the Central Taiwan Science Park (CTSP) in Houli, Taichung, Taiwan. Air Products is supplying nitrogen to NexPower's facility through its pipeline network in the CTSP.
Founded by the UMC Group, a leading global semiconductor foundry, NexPower is a world-class thin-film PV manufacturer in Taiwan with its own product development, research and development, and manufacturing. By ramping up to 100MW within only 18 months, NexPower is one of the first Taiwan companies to achieve successful thin-film mass production.
"Air Products is excited to be NexPower's gas supply partner. This new contract demonstrates our leading position in the thin-film PV market and is a testimony to our capabilities to enable a fast ramp up to meet customers' needs," said Corning Painter, Air Products' vice president and general manager, Global Electronics Division. "Our expertise in thin-film PV applications and SunSource™ Solutions help our PV customers to drive down their cost-per-watt through enhanced plant efficiency."
The CTSP, which includes Taichung, Houli, Huwei and Erlin park stations, is one of the two new government-sponsored science parks in Taiwan to attract investments and the development of high-tech industries to the central Taiwan district.
Last year, Air Products won more than 20 new contracts in Asia serving both the crystalline and thin-film PV markets and has since signed gas supply contracts with leading PV manufacturers including Best Solar and CHINT Solar in China, Green Energy Technology in Taiwan, and HHV Solar and Jupiter Solar in India. Air Products' long-standing history serving the semiconductor and thin-film transistor liquid crystal display (TFT-LCD) industries from their inception to current times makes it ideally suited to serving the thin-film PV industry.
With the demand for renewable energy and improved efficiency on the rise, Air Products is well positioned to support these developing markets with its expertise and project experience in areas including large-scale hydrogen supply for cleaner transportation fuels, developmental work on the hydrogen economy, hydrogen vehicle fuelling and infrastructure, leading natural gas liquefaction technology, and now the growing supply of gases and services for the photovoltaic industry.
For more information on Air Products' PV offerings, please visit www.airproducts.com/Sunsource.
About NexPower Technology Corporation
NexPower Technology Corporation is a world leader in silicon thin-film photovoltaic manufacturing. Founded by the UMC Group in 2005, NexPower is the first Taiwan company to begin thin-film photovoltaic mass production, and the first to attain IEC 61646, IEC 61730 certification, and UL 1703 listing. NexPower is a pioneer in the silicon thin-film industry, driving product efficiency improvements from 7% in 2008 to 10% in 2010. With 87.5MW of capacity on line, NexPower is a leader in the worldwide photovoltaic supply chain.
About Air Products
Air Products serves customers in industrial, energy, technology and healthcare markets worldwide with a unique portfolio of atmospheric gases, process and specialty gases, performance materials, and equipment and services. Founded in 1940, Air Products has built leading positions in key growth markets such as semiconductor materials, refinery hydrogen, home healthcare services, natural gas liquefaction, and advanced coatings and adhesives. The company is recognized for its innovative culture, operational excellence and commitment to safety and the environment. Air Products had fiscal 2008 revenues of $10.4 billion, operations in over 40 countries, and 21,000 employees around the globe.
Air Products San Fu is a leading producer of industrial gases in Taiwan, supplying atmospheric gases, electronics specialty gases, chemicals and related equipment for many industries. Air Products San Fu is one of "The Top 200 Companies" in Taiwan and is the first gas company in Taiwan awarded ISO9002 and ISO14000 certifications.
Source: Air Products (press release)