Accelerating Solar
Applied Materials is proud to sponsor the 2009 Solar Decathlon and to help showcase some of the world's smartest "green" technologies in our nation's Capital. At this critical time, with global action required to combat climate change, the students and universities competing in the decathlon are demonstrating the innovations and applications that will shape our future. They prove that solutions are ready and available today and that implementing clean technology doesn't mean sacrificing livability, aesthetics or economics. Together we can show how clean, free power from the sun is being harnessed to power our world and how solar energy and renewable energy can be a powerful engine of growth to drive the next wave of economic prosperity.
Applied Materials is the world leader in nanomanufacturing technology™ solutions, engineering the microscopic "thin films" that make electronic innovations like smart phones, powerful computers and consumer electronics possible and affordable. As energy demand increases, energy prices are also on the rise. At the same time, the reliance on imported oil and the environmental costs of fossil fuel-based energy generation have made it more important than ever to start producing more of our power from clean, renewable sources. Solar solutions provide a competitively priced answer.
Price Competitive for Peak Electricity Demand
Solar PV has a generation profile that closely matches peak summer load, and is already cost competitive with traditional peak generation sources in areas with high insolation and high peak costs. Within 10 years Solar PV is expected to be cost competitive in most regions of the U.S. on a wholesale and retail basis. Read more.
Offers Quick Deployment without Significant Transmission Costs
Solar PV is ideal for wholesale distributed generation projects. Sited at a distribution level near load centers, solar farms can be quickly deployed since they do not require lengthy permitting and construction of costly transmission lines, facilitating a faster, simpler interconnection process. See how.
Boosts Local Economic Development
As illustrated by Applied's fab2farm solar deployment model, solar PV can provide a powerful economic engine creating green technology jobs and a significant local development corridor. Unlike other power generation sources, a significant share of solar PV investments dollars stays in the community.
Easily Scalable
Solar PV is a manufactured energy, meaning there is a predictable cost decline as manufacturing volume and efficiency go up. Greater scale drives lower cost, and lower cost increases demand. In addition, technology innovations will continue to drive advances in light conversion efficiency, as well as enhancement in installation and maintenance techniques.
Eliminates Fuel Price Uncertainty
Unlike fossil fuels, solar PV provides cost predictability since the "fuel" is free and immune to pricing volatility such as that present in the natural gas market. In addition, solar PV can become a carbon hedge against stricter environmental standards or taxes in the future.
Applied, is the leading solar equipment supplier and is bringing technology and scale to solar. The Company is also driving down the cost of manufacturing crystalline silicon solar panels and the panels our equipment create serve residential, commercial rooftop and utility scale solar farm markets.
Applied Materials is also pursuing ways to produce more efficient LED technology, smarter chips, energy storage solutions, smart grid technology and fuel cells.
More Information
- Learn more about the ideas, actions and products shaping what Applied believes will be a cleaner, brighter future. Visit the Clean Tech, Applied Blog.
- Learn more about the economic benefits of solar power and a model for utility scale solar.
- Learn more about solar power.
- Learn more about the Santa Clara University entry also sponsored by Applied.
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