Abound, a small, privately held US start-up, is taking on industrygiant First Solar. What’s more, they think they can win. Like FirstSolar, Abound makes cadmium telluride solar panels. First Solar hasmanaged to reduce the cost of its solar power to 98 cents per watt.According to Reuters, Abound thinks it can do better:

We think we have a slight technological advantage over First Solar,"Chief Executive Pascal Noronha said in an interview. "And by the way Ithink very highly of First Solar."

Abound’s manufacturing process, Noronha said, is completelyautomated and continuous, allowing the company to convert sheets ofglass into solar panels in less than two hours without human labor.

Abound believes it will equal First Solar in terms of cost-per-wattwithin three months, and then expects to do even better. We’ll have tosee if they can live up to their promises, and if First Solar can keepup!

Start-Up Abound Throws Down The Gauntlet For First Solar (FSLR)