SAN JOSE, USA: SEMI announced details of the association's global photovoltaic (PV) initiatives, including the formation of the SEMI PV Group to enhance member support in this critically important and high growth area.

With technologies and industry structure similar to the semiconductor industry — and with 20 percent of SEMI members currently active in PV, including the industry's largest equipment and materials suppliers -- SEMI is uniquely positioned to support the PV industry growth through reduced costs, efficient technology transfer, global market development, industry standards, market statistics, and other service.

While recent estimates project the global photovoltaic (PV) market to grow from US$13 billion today to over $40 billion in 2012, the PV industry is dependent upon continued technological development, cost reduction, responsible public policies, and industry collaboration for continued long term growth. Given the significant growth opportunities for SEMI members, and enormous societal benefits to rapid adoption of solar energy, SEMI has been rapidly escalating services to members in the PV industry for several years.

To expand these services, the SEMI PV Group was conceived by leaders in photovoltaic manufacturing to address the opportunities and obstacles to bringing low-cost PV technology and sustainable, clean energy to the world. As the only global industry group focused on PV materials, equipment, and manufacturing, SEMI believes it can play a critical role in the cost reduction and rapid expansion of solar energy.

The SEMI PV Group is comprised of SEMI members active in PV, SEMI PV Advisory Committees, and dedicated staff resources in Europe, North America, Korea, Taiwan, Japan, Singapore, and China. Currently, SEMI organizes a range of PV-related events including PV-focused technical events at executive and technical conferences such the Industry Strategy Symposiums (ISS), all SEMICON expositions in Europe, Asia, and North America, PV Fab Managers Forums, and executive forums and roundtables held throughout the world.

Additional SEMI services and activities in the PV area include market research and statistics programs, support for public policy initiatives through direct advocacy and coordination with other information groups, Environmental, Health, and Safety (EHS) regulatory support, serving as information clearinghouse for PV manufacturing news and information, and facilitating international industry standards that reduce costs and expand business opportunities for SEMI members.

The PV advisory committee is comprised of executives representing major PV regions around the globe, and includes:

* Karl Hesse (co-chair), Wacker Chemie
* Tatsuo Saga (co-chair), Sharp
* Wolfgang Koch (vice-chair), KoSolCo
* Heiko Moritz, GTSolar
* Bob Falster, MEMC
* Yasunori Uchida, JPEA Representative
* Zhengrong Shi, Suntech Power
* Simon Tsuo, MoTech
* Quincy Lin, NeoSolar
* Hans Autenrieth, Centrotherm
* Winfred Hoffmann, Applied Materials/EPIA
* Peter Pauli, Meyer & Burger
* Heinz Ossenbrink, JRC Ispra
* Eicke Weber, FhG ISE
* Michio Kondo, AIST

The SEMI PV Group is currently working with a diverse set of industry associations to achieve its member goals including the European Photovoltaic Industry Association (EPIA), the Japan Photovoltaic Energy Association (JPEA), the Solar Energy Industry Association (SEIA), as well as many others.