Under the agreement TEL will become the exclusive representative for Oerlikon Solar's thin-film silicon PV equipment and end to end production solutions in parts of Asia, Oceania and Japan. It will also provide manpower and services in the area of installation, ramp-up and customer service.

"This strategic cooperation between TEL and Oerlikon Solar creates a new solar powerhouse which will unlock the huge potential of the Asian solar market. There could be no better partnership in the centre of the Asian solar market," says Dr Uwe Krüger, Chief Executive Officer at Oerlikon.

The two companies plan to “significantly expand the adoption of thin-film silicon PV technology in parts of Asia, Oceania and Japan, areas which are already leading in solar adoption and export.”

The global market for thin-film PV is expected to increase at an average rate of more than 60% per year through 2012, which is more than twice the rate of growth expected for traditional crystal silicon technology, according to Oerlikon Solar.