DGAP-News: SolarWorld AG / Key word(s): Miscellaneous
SolarWorld AG: SolarWorld expands crystal cell production in Arnstadt
12.03.2015 / 12:05
---------------------------------------------------------------------
SolarWorld AG will expand its production in Arnstadt, Germany, by
manufacturing solar mono-crystals. In addition, the group will upgrade all
of its solar cell production lines to manufacture highly efficient PERC
cells. Dr.-Ing. E. h. Frank Asbeck, CEO of SolarWorld, made this
announcement on the occasion of the first anniversary of SolarWorld
Industries Thüringen in Arnstadt.
SolarWorld, Europe's largest solar manufacturer, took over the German cell
and module production from Bosch Solar Energy AG in March 2014. Today,
production of solar cells and modules in Arnstadt is running at full
capacity, and 830 jobs have been preserved in solar manufacturing. The
addition of crystal production will create about 60 jobs.
Silicon mono-crystals are drawn from the liquid silicon melt, then cut into
lengths, or ingots, for further processing into solar wafers and then cells
and final assembly into modules. The annual production capacity of
mono-crystals in Arnstadt is expected gradually to grow to about 500
megawatts, beginning in the second quarter of 2015. SolarWorld's production
site in Freiberg, Germany, will cut the silicon ingots into wafers.
In parallel, SolarWorld will expand the PERC technology (passivated emitter
rear contact) of a pilot line in Arnstadt to the site's entire cell
production of 700 megawatts. As a result of new coating processes on cells'
fronts and backs, the PERC technology achieves much higher efficiencies.
In Hillsboro, Oregon, in the United States, SolarWorld already produces
exclusively PERC cells. In Freiberg, cell production will be upgraded to
PERC technology this year, too. In early 2015, SolarWorld achieved
efficiency of 21.42 percent, setting a new world record for industrially
manufactured monocrystalline PERC solar cells. Asbeck: "Solar technology is
about quality and maximum power efficiency. In both areas, we will further
expand our leadership position. We thus consistently focus on our
production in Germany and the United States. With new crystal production in
Arnstadt, we will extend the vertical range of our value chain. Only sites
operating under maximum quality, environmental and social standards, with
qualified personnel and at advanced levels of automation can achieve top
quality. That's what our customers expect from us."
In Germany and the United States, SolarWorld has annual production capacity
of well over one gigawatt, covering all major steps of the value chain.
Accounting for higher, PERC efficiency, SolarWorld's groupwide module
capacity rises to 1.6 gigawatts groupwide.
SolarWorld REAL VALUE: SolarWorld manufactures and sells high-tech solar
power solutions and in doing so contributes to a cleaner energy supply
worldwide. The group, headquartered in Bonn, Germany, employs approximately
3,400 people and carries out production in Freiberg, Germany; Arnstadt,
Germany; and Hillsboro, USA. From raw material silicon to solar wafers,
cells and modules, SolarWorld manages all stages of production â including
its own research and development. Through an international distribution
network with locations in Europe, USA, Singapore and South Africa,
SolarWorld supplies customers all over the world. The company maintains
high social standards at all locations across the globe, and has committed
itself to resource- and energy-efficient production. SolarWorld was founded
in 1998 and has been publically traded on the stock market since 1999. More
information at www.solarworld.de/en
Contact:
SolarWorld AG
Laura Przybilla
Martin-Luther-King-Str. 24
53175 Bonn
+49 (0) 228 55920 409
laura.przybilla@solarworld.com
www.solarworld.de
---------------------------------------------------------------------
12.03.2015 Dissemination of a Corporate News, transmitted by DGAP - a
service of EQS Group AG.
The issuer is solely responsible for the content of this announcement.
The DGAP Distribution Services include Regulatory Announcements,
Financial/Corporate News and Press Releases.
Media archive at www.dgap-medientreff.de and www.dgap.de
---------------------------------------------------------------------
Language: English
Company: SolarWorld AG
Martin-Luther-King-StraÃe 24
53175 Bonn
Germany
Phone: +49 (0)228 - 559 20 470
Fax: +49 (0)228 - 559 20 9470
E-mail: placement@solarworld.de
Internet: www.solarworld.de
ISIN: DE000A1YCMM2, DE000A1YDDX6, DE000A1YCN14
WKN: A1YCMM, A1YDDX, A1YCN1
Listed: Regulated Market in Dusseldorf, Frankfurt (Prime
Standard); Regulated Unofficial Market in Berlin, Hamburg,
Munich, Stuttgart
End of News DGAP News-Service
---------------------------------------------------------------------
332613 12.03.2015
DGAP-News: SolarWorld AG: SolarWorld expands crystal cell production in Arnstadt
| Source: EQS Group AG