Interview
Ltd., which provides complete solutions for KIC, a leader in thermal process In terms of global PV production
manufacturing in the electronic, photo- development and control products, has installation, India ranks 11th and until
voltaic and smartcard industries, Bergen recently appointed you as its exclusive 2008 commanded a market share of
Electronics Ltd., which provides applica- distributor in India for photovol- only 0.6%. Where do you see Indian
tion support and training and stocks spare taic thermal profiler. How does this solar PV industry by 2012?
parts, DD-Berg Consultants Pvt. Ltd., partnership strengthen your product
which offers consultancy services by inter- offering for solar industry? India is going to be a major player and PV
national and national experts, and Steca hub in the near future. I can foresee the
Bergen Solar Products Pvt. Ltd, a joint The SunKIC profiler is a useful tool for Indian local market for PV/solar reaching
venture with parent company Bergen and optimizing process parameters and manag- 8GW installation by the end of 2012.
Steca GmbH, Germany, one of the leading ing thermal processes, so we expect great
manufacturers of solar charge controllers demand for this product from the industry, Do you think the Indian government
in the world. especially given how easy it is to use. The has long term vision and strategy for
SunKIC comes with a software called harnessing solar PV energy?
Bergen Associates is a major supplier of Spectrum that automatically selects the
capital equipment for PCB manufactur- furnace zone temperatures and conveyor The mindset of the Indian authorities
ing and PCB Assembly processes since speed that will give the most optimum needs to be changed. Today, they think so-
its inception. When and what made profile, the one that will produce the most lar energy is very costly, but forget that the
you to plan a business foray for provid- efficient cells. running cost of PV energy is almost zero,
ing technology solutions to semiconduc- if used in the grid. India is an agrarian
tor and solar industry in India? The semiconductor policy announced country, so the irrigation load of farmers
that in 2007 it had attracted invest- must be put on solar. This would reduce a
PV cell manufacturing process is a combi- ment proposals in excess of US$ 23 lot of transmission and distribution costs,
nation of PCB manufacturing and PCB billion in the semiconductor sector, since no electric lines and transformers
assembly processing, plus sputtering. So, especially solar PV and LCD manufac- would be required.
the progression from providing PCB to PV turing. How did you capitalize on this Secondly, the government must amend
manufacturing solution was a natural one. windfall business opportunity? the laws to start Feed-in-Tariffs at very
For instance, Schmid, which is a lead- lucrative rates as done by German govern-
ing equipment manufacturing company I am happy that the semiconductor policy ment over the years.
that provides PCB and flat panel display announced by the government of India in
manufacturing solutions, stepped into 2007 has received such an overwhelming What are the major milestones Bergen
providing turnkey projects for solar PV response. All these proposals have come as Associates traversed in the last 25
industry. In a short span, Schmid became a follow-up of the semiconductor policy, years? Will you share your company’s
the first company in the world to provide which doles out Special Incentive Package future road map?
horizontal in-line, 100% fully automatic Schemes (SIPS). Under SIPS, the govern-
concept of wafer-in and cell-out technology ment would provide an incentive of 20 Bergen Associates is a knowledge-based
to the industry. Bergen Associates Pvt Ltd, percent of capital expenditure during the company with focus on customised solu-
being the representative of Schmid for the first 10 years for the units in Special Eco- tions for its clients. The prominent custom-
last 20 years, also automatically entered nomic Zones (SEZ) and 25 percent of the ers Bergen Associates served are Videocon
into the business of PV manufacturing capital expenditure in non-SEZ units. Also, Industries Ltd., Aurangabad; 15 projects
solutions. Our highly trained team of over any unit can claim incentives in the form in digital telephones in collaboration with
50 engineers, who have been involved in of capital subsidy or equity participation by Siemens and Ericsson technology which
installation and inspection over the years, the Indian government as well. included Nokia plant at Chennai as well.
were also at ease in setting up the PV lines We have worked with two major play- PCB projects like ECIL, AT&S, GNFC,
across the country. ers Moser Baer Photovoltaic Ltd. and Indo- Micropack etc. Moser Baer Photovoltaic
Solar Ltd., both set up cell manufacturing Ltd. and IndoSolar Ltd., Ajit Solar, XL
Can you give us an overview of the plants at Greater Noida, near New Delhi. Telecom, Emmvee Solar are the highlights
products offered by you for solar and We have installed and commissioned both of the PV market. Also, we have set up
semiconductor industry in India? these projects totaling an installed capacity sophisticated electronic circuit laboratories
of 500 MW (100 MW = 25 million cells at in all IITs, NITs and prestigious colleges
For solar and semiconductor technology, 17% efficiency), which was the major share around the country.
we offer the renowned technology and out of this windfall. We are thinking of undertaking module in-
solutions from companies like SCHMID, stallation job in East European countries,
with their turnkey solutions for PV cell What are the other major project Australia and USA in the near future. Our
and module assembly, as well as diffusion installations you are currently under- JV, Steca-Bergen Solar Products Pvt. Ltd.
and curing furnaces from SierraTherm, taking? currently produces 1,000 charge control-
laminating lines from 3S Swiss Solar lers in a year. We expect to ramp it up to
Systems, Pasan for cell and module testing, We have on-going expansions of our cur- 100,000 units by the end of 2009.
Luvata ribbons and tabs, ERSA soldering rent projects in Moser Baer Photovoltaic
stations and KIC thermal profilers. Ltd. and IndoSolar Ltd. In addition, we Rajinder, many thanks for talking to us today.
are setting up the module assembly line of
Ajit Solar Ltd. in Rajasthan and BHEL.
www.globalsolartechnology.com Global Solar Technology – March/April 2009 – 25
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