U.S.-based Applied Materials recently held a ceremony in Xi'an in Shaanxi province to celebrate the establishment of a solar power technology center.

The new solar power technology center, which will be mainly engaged in the production, research and development, display, and testing of thin film and crystal solar panels and related training, will be one of the largest and most advanced solar power R&D centers in the world. It consists of a large thin film and crystal solar panel reliability testing lab, which is said to be the first of its kind in China, and a complete SUnFab single thin film solar cell production line as well as a comprehensive set of crystal silicon solar panel experimental production facilities.

The establishment of the new center is further evidence that Xi'an has become a major worldwide player in the advanced photovoltaic solar industry.