In addition to market demand and government incentives, extremely advanced technologies are required to support the steadily decreasing price of power generated by photovoltaic (PV) cells. One of the most crucial technologies is the metallization on the two sides of the wafer to conduct the electrons, that is, electric power, out of the cell. This is mostly done with screen printing, where a conductive paste is forced through the openings of a fabric (called a screen) to establish contact with the wafer.

Photovoltaic (PV) solar panel prices have fallen about 40% since the middle of last year, largely as a result of the improved supply of polysilicon which goes into crystalline-silicon-based panels. When the industry was constrained by limited production of polysilicon, the price reached over $300/kg. Now, the cost has fallen well below $100/kg and supplies are readily available for mass production — driving a continuing decline in panel prices.

Today, the solar photovoltaics (PV) industry relies on government incentive programs to be competitive in electricity markets. The main government policy lever has been the use of feed-in tariffs (FiTs). An FiT requires utilities to interconnect with private renewable energy generators and purchase the electricity generated at a pre-determined rate.

美国3000年左右的公共和私有electricity suppliers are uniquely positioned to build out solar farms, as part of a broad, public push for energy diversification.

New York Times columnist Tom Friedman wrote a great piece in Wednesday's Times entitled "Have a Nice Day" about Applied Materials and what we must do to put America on the path to leadership in solar energy. The piece is based on his visit to Applied last week. I would encourage you to check it out.

The World Economic Forum in Dalian, China last week sparked discussion on some of the most pressing issues of the day — our low-carbon future, the role of emerging economies and the energy sector transformation into a diversity of choices over the next 20 years. Solar and nuclear both garnered strong voices in the working sessions, with many attendees calling for more discussion about energy efficiency in future forums. The key take-away: a strong commitment from China t

Green Power! On Monday, the U.S. Environmental Protection Agency (EPA) presented us with a 2009 Green Power Leadership Award for our commitment and contribution to helping advance the development of the nation’s voluntary green power market. This is a significant achievement for Applied, as we were one of only three organizations nationwide to receive an award for on-site generation of green power.

The feed-in tariff (FiT) and net metering are both methods by which a utility company compensates a homeowner or other producer for the energy fed back into the grid. Simply put, net metering requires one meter, FiT requires two. In net metering the meter simply “runs backwards” when a homeowner’s solar panels are producing more electricity than the property is using, sending the excess energy back through transmission lines to other energy consumers.

Earlier this summer, the California Air Resources Board (CARB) voted unanimously to require auto manufacturers to install low-e glass on all new cars sold within the state starting in 2012. This type of glass is manufactured by many customers of Applied's Glass Coating Products division and is designed to help keep the interiors of vehicles cooler during the summer months, reducing the need for air conditioning, boosting fuel efficiency and reducing carbon emissions at the same time.