Largest Manufacturers, Including Gintech and Motech, Lead Growth as Companies Expand Output to Meet Surging Demand for Alternative Energy Sources

Taiwan 's solar cell industry, the world's third largest, saw revenue double during the second quarter this year as demand for alternative energy sources surged.

Second-quarter sales for Taiwan's solar cell industry rose by 95 percent to NT$34.8 billion (US$1.1 billion) from the same period last year, based on monthly reports the companies file to the Taiwan stock exchange authorities. Sales for Taiwan 's largest companies, including Motech Industries and Gintech Energy Corp. exceeded the 95 percent gain for the domestic industry.

India is among the latest nations to ramp up power generation from solar cells as governments around the world subsidize expenditures on solar energy to reduce dependence on oil imports. India is building solar generation capacity that is expected to power nearly 1 million homes by2013. Taiwan 's Motech has a agreement to supply cells to India 's Solar Semiconductor.

Taiwan 's solar cell makers include Motech, Gintech, E-Ton Solar Tech, Sino-American Silicon Products Inc. Sinonar Corp. and Green Energy Technology. Motech andGintech are among the world's ten largest suppliers by revenues.

New applications for solar cells are expanding in places where power generation from fossil fuels is impractical or even harmful to the environment. An increasing number of mobile phone base stations will be solar powered, according to market research firm Pike Research.

"Energy is one of the top expense items for mobile network operators," Pike Research Managing Director Clint Wheelock said in a July 6 report.  "As solar and wind equipment become more cost-effective in the next few years, renewable energy will be an increasingly attractive option for base station power." 

Taiwan 's solar cell makers led second-quarter sales performance in Taiwan 's high technology industry, which includes companies making everything from semiconductors, flat-panel displays, computers, mobile phones and digital music players.

In 2009, the Taiwan government unveiled a five-year plan to invest a total of NT$45 billion to boost the green energy industry , which includes solar cells and light-emitting diodes (LEDs) that are replacing standard light bulbs . Taiwan 's Executive Yuan, or Cabinet, last year passed a proposal to invest at least NT$20 billion in R&D for green-energy technology and NT$25 billion in installation of environmentally friendly equipment including LEDs and solar panels.

The government aims to increase green energy industry revenue to more than NT$1 trillion by 2015, up from NT$160.3 billion in 2008. By 2015, the Taiwan industry is expected to account for 6.6% of the total revenue of Taiwan`s manufacturing industry and create 110,000 jobs.

Taiwan is also a leading producer of LEDs, which are replacing traditional incandescent and fluorescent lights in homes, cars and a wide range of electrical devices. In addition to substantial energy savings, LEDs have less impact on the environment than fluorescent lights, which contain mercury.

The global market for LEDs, worth about US$5 billion, is likely to more than double in size by 2012 as nations and consumers use the energy-saving lights to cut expenses and help reduce carbon emissions. LEDs are likely to capture a larger portion of the market for nearly every type of lighting such as displays in electronic devices, road signage, traffic lights, large public information screens and video displays.

Motech Industrial Inc.

http://www.motechind.com/

Gintech Energy Corp.

http://www.gintechenergy.com/

E-Ton Solar Tech

http://www.e-tonsolar.com/company.htm

Sino-American Silicon Products Inc.

http://www.saswafer.com/index/index_tw.aspx

Sinonar Corp.

http://www.sinonar.com.tw/

Green Energy Technology

http://www.getinc.com.tw/

Neo Solar Power

http://www.neosolarpower.com/

DelSolar Co.

http://www.delsolarpv.com/index.asp

Please visit www.taiwantrade.org.tw or www.brandingtaiwan.org for more information.

Taiwan External Trade Development Council (TAITRA)

The Taiwan External Trade Development Council (TAITRA) was founded in 1970 to promote Taiwan 's foreign trade and competitiveness in world markets. Over the past 3 8 years, TAITRA has played a key role in the development of the Taiwan economy. TAITRA is jointly sponsored by the government and commercial associations and is viewed by all as the business gateway to Taiwan for the international business community.

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