Power Management Vendors Collaborate on Solar Energy

Nov 15, 2006 2:14 PM

Three suppliers of power management technology have signed a Memorandum of Understanding (MOU) in the field of photovoltaic power generation. Under the terms of the MOU, Delta Electronics, its majority-owned subsidiary DelSolar, and STMicroelectronics will explore strategic cooperation opportunities with the intention of concluding a strategic partnership in areas such as increasing solar cell production, and developing photovoltaic inverter and power supply applications.

ST is a supplier of semiconductor solutions for power conversion applications. DelSolar is a solar cell manufacturer. Delta is a provider of switching power supplies, and is now focusing on photovoltaic inverter design and production.

Solar power accounted for only 0.024% of the total amount of electricity produced globally in 2004. By 2010 this may grow by a factor of 10, as solar power is predicted to supply 0.25% of the world’s electricity, according to the Daiwa Institute of Research. Beyond that, solar energy has huge growth potential as global demand for clean, renewable energy increases. Solar power’s advantages include low environmental pollution, solar cells with long product life cycles, and an unlimited supply of raw energy (the earth receives more energy from the sun in just one hour than the world uses in an entire year).

“We believe that the combination of expertise offered by Delta, DelSolar, and ST, which spans the full chain from the raw silicon to the inverters and power supplies that deliver electrical energy to the users, will enable the development of more efficient technologies and products, thereby accelerating the wider use of solar energy,” said Mr. RC Liang, Senior Technology Advisor of Delta Group and CEO of DelSolar.