TSMC Solar, a wholly-owned subsidiary of Taiwan Semiconductor Manufacturing Company, has announced that it recently completed equipment move-in in preparation for commercial production ramp at its new CIGS fab in Taichung, central Taiwan.

Dubbed the S-Fab, the new CIGS fab is a six-story 700,000-square foot LEED certified facility, the company said. Initial Phase I investment totaled US$258 million with manufacturing capacity of 100 megawatts (MW) per year in 2012, ramping to 300MW at Phase 1 completion.

TSMC Solar's planned addition of a 300MW Phase II, when coupled with productivity improvements, will take total facility capacity to one gigawatt (GW) by 2015, the company indicated.

First panels from the production line are headed for UL and IEC certification and testing this quarter with first commercial products expected to be shipped in the first quarter of 2012, according to TSMC Solar. California Energy Commission (CEC) listing is slated for the middle of the first quarter, 2012.