PHOTON International The Photovoltaic Magazine

A planned module factory on the Mediterranean island of Cyprus has dropped an outsourcing deal with French wafer, cell, and module manufacturer Photowatt (see PI 7/2001, p. 7) and instead is ordering production equipment for a 10 MW line from US-based Spire Corp.

	© ATmicro Solar Ltd.
When ready for production next year, ATmicro's new module factory will have a 10 MW capacity, with dreams growing to 60 MW.

Andreas Tapakoudes, sole owner of ATmicro Solar Ltd. (ATMS), says he has already signed a three-year agreement for a supply of monocrystalline cells but declined to name the company, pending the completion of an exclusive agreement that he expects to sign by the end of June. »We'll be able to produce modules that nobody else has,« says Tapakoudes. »That's why we're being so secretive.« When pushed, Tapakoudes says the company's modules, branded with the ATMS trademark, will use high-efficiency bifacial cells. ATMS, a subsidiary of the high-tech investment company ATmicro Ltd., expects to complete construction of a new $2.3 million factory building by September, with the Spire equipment installed in December.

Tapakoudes says ATMS will start with trial runs next January and be ready to sell 75 and 150 W modules by February or March. He says ATMS, which may also eventually sell 300 W modules, should be able to manufacture about 6 MW in 2003. ATMS has options and space for two more 10 MW Spire lines, each costing around $2.7 million. »If things go as we hope, we could build another 30 MW extension to the factory and go up to 60 MW,« envisions Tapakoudes.

ATMS is currently seeking distributors in the eastern Mediterranean, Europe, and the Middle East. But Tapakoudes says Maurice Covino, who recently left Spire Corp. as assistant general manager, has been hired as an ATMS consultant and will be looking for distributors worldwide.

In April, ATMS bought a majority share in a small Greek company, International Commercial Services Duell, to help give ATMS a local base for going after large Greek solar projects. The company, which will be named ATmicro Solar (Greece) Ltd., may start module production if the market develops, says Tapakoudes.