Solar Energy in China

Applied Materials' Chairman and CEO Mike Splinter met with several high level government officials on his recent trip to China. He met with the Minister of Commerce, Vice Minister of Industry and Information Technology (MIIT) and senior members of the National Development and Reform Commission (NDRC) and the National Energy Administration (NEA) to engage the Chinese leadership on policy initiatives that would expand the deployment of solar energy in China. China currently manufactures about half the world's solar panels, however it only installed 1-2% of the world’s solar panels last year.

Mike also visited Xi'an, China, where the company opened its new solar technology center - an industry leading R&D facility that occupies 400,000 sq. ft. and includes both thin film and crystalline silicon production lines. The Governor of Shaanxi province, Yuan Chunqing and Mayor of Xi'an, Chen Baogen presided over the opening ceremony along with other distinguished guests.

The U.S. and China are the two largest users of energy and it is imperative for the two countries to demonstrate leadership in the adoption of renewables including solar. With the UN COP 15 Climate Change Conference looming in Copenhagen, both countries must set bold and aggressive targets for reducing emissions and increasing clean energy in their mix.