Given the poor state of the economy in the US, and with the situation likely to get worse for the semiconductor industry, companies supplying to customers located outside the US may have a better likelihood of business growth.

Clearly, Germany leads the world in its acceptance and implementation of solar energy with although other big solar-supporting countries such as Spain and Italy, are working hard to catch up as evidenced by thin film solar module equipment supplier Applied Material Inc’s many contracts in these geographies, with another just announced today.

Aragona, Sicily-based renewable energy producer Moncada Energy Group srl has awarded Applied a contract to establish what will be Moncada’s first photovoltaic (PV) module production facility and Applied’s first SunFab line in Italy, the two said today.

Applied’s SunFab thin film line will produce 5.7-square-meter single junction PV modules at a facility to be located in Campofranco, Sicily, expected to have an annual rated capacity of 40MW.

The company plans to begin production on the SunFab line in 2010.

Dr. Mark Pinto, senior VP and general manager of Applied’s energy and environmental solutions group added in a statement, “We are excited to expand our role in Italy – which has the geographic potential to realize early grid parity – from supplying crystalline silicon equipment through our Baccini business to producing the world’s largest thin film modules with our SunFab line.”

If the US economic situation continues to suffer, growth in technology and consumer sectors will be stifled, with the US solar business impacted as well, it seems to me. More hope seems to come from doing business outside the US, with alternative energy opportunities fueling some of that. Chime in with your thoughts!

--Ann Steffora Mutschler, Senior Editor