With operations in over 40 countries, and a portfolio of products and services spanning numerous industries, Air Products Strategic Marketing Planning and New Business Development Director Andy Tuan speaks to PES about bringing 70 years of innovation to the worldwide PV market.
PES: Welcome back to PES. When we last spoke, you were optimistic about the solar PV industry in 2010. How did the year shape-up for you, and do you still feel the same optimism for 2011?
Andy Tuan: 2010 was a good year. The industry saw 100 per cent plus growth and we were pleased to keep up with the growth. With the recession impacts dwindling, we anticipate 2011 will be good and more inline with historical trend line growth. A lot of capacity expansions that were announced in 2010 are now under way in 2011, so we expect positive year-on-year growth, the magnitude is highly dependent on how all the incentives are adjusted throughout the year.
PES: The company famously evolved in pace with the semiconductor industry – do you find that you are evolving your products and services to meet the needs of PV?
AT: From semiconductors to LCD (liquid crystal display) to PV, our understanding of film properties and deposition methods is what draws our customers to us. Being able to take that knowledge base and apply to PV gives us a great advantage. Our knowhow is becoming even more valuable as PV technologies are becoming more sophisticated to drive to higher efficiencies. Couple that with our experience in safe and reliable bulk supply of gases and you have a winning formula for PV manufacturers.
PES: In our last conversation, you touched upon the development of ‘an advanced radio frequency plasma chemical vapour deposition process’. How is this progressing, and what will the benefits be for manufacturers?
