Applied Materials, Inc. launched its strategy to reduce the cost per watt of solar power for solar electricity users through a combination of manufacturing tools, technology and process innovations from the flat panel and semiconductor industries, that will enable customers to increase conversion efficiency and yields.

"We plan to change the cost equation for solar power through adaptation of our existing technology and new innovation in order to help make solar a more meaningful contributor to the global energy supply," said Mike Splinter, Applied Materials, president and CEO.

As worldwide energy demand continues to rise, the overall solar equipment market is expected to grow from approximately $1 billion in 2006 to more than $3 billion in 2010, according to industry estimates that do not include additional opportunities for service-related growth.

"We have assembled a team of industry veterans, who," said Mark Pinto, senior vice president and chief technology officer, "...can enable customers to move through the expected transition from small-scale 20 MW - 40 MW factories to sophisticated gigawatt-level facilities."

This week at the European Photovoltaic Solar Energy Conference in Dresden, Germany, Applied Materials is showing several physical vapor deposition (PVD) and plasma enhanced chemical vapor deposition (PECVD) products as well as processes, material-handling technologies and services to support solar cell production for both crystalline-silicon and thin-film solar applications.