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SEMI International Standards
SEMI New Activity Report Form (SNARF)



Activity Number: 4799
SNARF for: Specification for Range of 5th Generation Substrate Sizes for Thin-Film Photovoltaic Application


Originating Global Technical Committee: Photovoltaic
Originating Technical Committee Region: Japan
Task Force in which work is to be carried out: Japan PV Materials Task Force


1. Rationale: Thin film photovoltaic panel industry is being started up and the substrate size is varying. It is commonly said that unification of the substrate into one size is difficult, considering variation of usage and handling of the panel, etc. To reduce industry cost, it should be important to have a guideline in range of substrate size to efficiently design equipment.

Expectation of this standard is to reduce equipment (including AMHS: Automated Material Handling System) cost, improve its time to market and to make wider opportunity of selection of equipment by giving a guideline to range of substrate size. Also, as a nature of thin film PV panel, this implies that the panels (final product) will result in similar to the size of the standardized substrate and, this may help installation cost reduction.

Proposed approach is to adapt a grouping scheme; map substrate size variations, group the sizes, and provide a guideline to a “size group” populated but varying in size in appropriate range and guideline is effective. In the long term, variation of panel sizes is expected to converge into stepwise by this approach.

Specifically, this standard focuses on giving a range of substrate sizes specification for 5th generation photovoltaic applications which has the biggest population in current market. 5th generation is a term typically quoted by LCD industry to define glass substrate size.
Rate the Estimated Effect on the Industry
2: Major effect on an industry sector - identify the relevant sector

Rate the Estimated Technical Difficulty of the Activity
II: Some Difficulty - Disagreements on known requirements exist but developing consensus is possible

2. Scope:
a: Define the areas to be covered or addressed by this activity or document:
This standard defines substrate size of so called 5th generation.
- Range of Width (ex. Min. 1000mm, Max. 1200mm)
- Range of Length (ex. Min. 1200mm, Max. 1500mm)
- Maximum Thickness (for substrate exclusion volume purpose, ex. Max. 5mm)
Note: Focus on width/length at first phase and add thickness at second phase.

This standard does not cover;
- Edge treatment
- Weight
- Material
- Orientation for transfer

b: Expected result of activity
New Standard

3. Projected Timetable for Completion:
a: General Milestones
a. Activity Start: 09/15/2009b. 1st Draft by: 11/02/2009
c. Preballot by: d. Technical Ballot by: 12/08/2009
e. Committee Approval By:04/06/2010

b: Activity Specific Milestones
a. Proof of Concept b. Acquisition of Resources:
c. Safety Checklist Completed



Safety Considerations:
The resulting document is expected NOT to be a Safety Guideline


Intellectual Property Considerations:
a. In complying with the standard or safety guideline to be developed, the use of patented technology or a copyrighted item(s) is NOT required
b. The body of the standard and any appendices or related information sections will NOT include copyrighted material

Comments, Special Circumstances: None.

Approval: Activity approved by Committee/GCS on September 15, 2009