NXP BV, the chip-making firm spun off from Koninklijke Philips Electronics NV, said in a statement that it does not want to make solar cells itself, but that it is interested in bringing a partner onto its site at Nijmegen.
LONDON: NXP BV is in talks on the possibility of converting a 6-inch wafer fab at Nijmegen, the Netherlands, to solar cell production.NXP BV, the chip-making firm spun off from Koninklijke Philips Electronics NV, said in a statement that it does not want to make solar cells itself, but that it is interested in bringing a partner onto its site at Nijmegen.
Rick Clemmer, CEO of NXP BV, explained in the statement that XP is active in power semiconductors and power management for solar power and lighting as a part of its high-performance, mixed-signal IC business strategy. The reuse of NXP wafer fabs for solar cell manufacture, Rick Clemmer added, could be complementary.
NXP BV had said in its fourth-quarter financial results that it will close the 6-inch wafer fab at Nijmegen – called ICN6 – by early in 2011. The ‘redesign’ programme is intended to achieve cost savings.
NXP BV had announced, in August 2009, a development partnership with Tata BP Solar India Limited, based in Bangalore, India – which is a joint venture of BP Solar and Tata Power. According to the pact, Tata BP will use various electronic circuits for solar applications developed by NXP.
NXP developed these circuits as per the requirements provided by Tata BP.
