Air Liquide said it has signed over 10 new long-term contracts with photovoltaic industry leaders in China, Malaysia, Taiwan and Japan, making the France-based company the supplier of over 120 photovoltaic customers worldwide. The company said it now has an overall manufacturing capacity above 13,000 megawatt peak (MWp) per year, which equals around 50% of the worldwide production capacity.

In Yixing, Jiangsu Province, China, Air Liquide has signed a long-term agreement for the turnkey supply of gases and precursors, equipment and installation, and on-site services, to Guodian Solar, a subsidiary of the Guodian Group, one of the five leading power groups in the country. Guodian Solar is a high-tech green energy company that integrates applications-R&D with large-scale manufacturing with plans up to above 1,000 MWp capacity within three years, and a focus on advanced crystalline silicon and thin film solar cells technologies.

In Shanghai, China, Air Liquide said it has further developed its existing supply relationship with Suntech Power, the world largest crystalline silicon cell manufacturer, by signing a contract for the long-term supply of nitrogen, equipment and on-site services.

In Kansai, Japan, Air Liquide has entered into a long-term agreement to supply silane gas to fabs of a leading manufacturer of high-efficiency silicon thin film solar cells, supporting its current ramp plans to double its capacity. Air Liquide did not release the name of the company.