Arco Solar, Interatom to Enter Joint Development

Chatsworth-based Arco Solar, a wholly owned subsidiary of Atlantic Richfield, and Interatom GmbH of West Germany, a member of the Siemens Group, announced an agreement to jointly develop photovoltaic products.

No schedule was set. But, according to the agreement, Arco Solar plans to help establish a plant in Europe based on its thin-film technology, which uses pieces of glass sprinkled with energy-producing silicon crystals. The two companies will have a joint research and development program while marketing new products separately.

The technology is now used in battery chargers for boats and mobile homes, but might eventually be adapted for calculators, watches and computers.