(Rpt, correcting matter in para 2)

New Delhi, Mar 5 (UNI) In a bid to create alternate sources of energy, Moser Baer today said it is setting up the world's largest thin film solar fab with an investment of up to 250 million dollars over the next 3-4 years in technical partnership with US-based Applied Materials.

''The facility to be constructed at Greater Noida SEZ will start commercial production from April 2008 that would be increased to 200 MW by 2009,'' company's Chairman Deepak Puri told reporters.

Initially, an investment of 100 million dollars will be made to attain 40 MW. Fifty per cent of this will be made through debt, 30 per cent by cash flows and third party sources and the rest will be covered through benefits under the recently announced IT policy.

According to market estimates, the thin film based solar modules will increase power generation from 250 MW at present to two GW with a global market size of 35-36 billion dollars by 2010, from the current 6-7 billion dollars.

''We are expecting revenues of up to 150-200 million dollars from our existing solar cells business and will add 100 million dollars from March-09,'' company's CEO Ravi Khanna said adding that plans are likely to set up energy firms to meet the growing energy needs of the country.

The thin films will be initially available for roof top application, and can be further used for global firms.

''We have to prove the efficiency, which if increases, may result in lowering of production costs,'' Mr Khanna added.

The company, at present, is in trial production with silicon wafers with 13-16 per cent efficiency which will cost around 30-40 cents per unit.

The efficieny will further be increased up to 26 per cent which will be the world's largest.

''We need to look for alternatives of silicon,'' Mr Puri said adding that the thin film with an area of 5.7 square meter is a step to generate low cost energy.

Capacity is tied up with increase in efficiency, which further lowers down the production cost, Mr Puri said.

Applied Materials CTO Mark Pinto said the combined capabilities will create a disruptive technology that provides a road map to sub-dollar per watt costs.

The company recently completed final line integration and trials on its 40 MW crystalline photovoltaic cell production facility at Greater Noida.

Thin film solar modules are ideal for energy farms, rural applications and building integrated photovoltaic markets.

Photovoltaic modules based on large area thin film technology bring cost parity between solar generation and grid power.

UNI