GERMANY: With a ground breaking ceremony Solarion AG started the construction of an integrated solar cell and module factory in the presence of the Saxon State Minister of Economic Affairs, Labor and Transport, Sven Morlok. On a three hectares site in the new industrial park Zwenkau-South (section of the industrial park Leipzig-South) Solarion’s first production facility for mass manufacturing of thin-film solar cells and modules is being developed.
“Today’s ground breaking ceremony constitutes an important and future-oriented event for Saxony’s solar industry and the further development of the location. Especially in the world of today in which renewable energies become increasingly essential for a sustainable, safe and affordable energy supply, completely new chances are opening up for Saxony’s solar industry. At the same time the event is a sign for excellent growth perspectives after the difficulties during the last years for the industrial sector,” Minister Morlok emphasizes in his greeting.
The company in Leipzig invests about 40 million Euros in the plant and creates 90 new jobs. As a whole, 140 employees will be working in the plant with a production area of 12,000 square meters. The annual production volume is designed for 20 megawatt. At the beginning of 2012 the factory goes into operation.
“The construction project is an important step to shift our R&D efforts from the pilot production phase into mass production. Photovoltaic has great perspectives and with our proprietary technology we will develop an important market share“, Dr. Karsten Otte, CEO of the Solarion AG, said. The investment of the new plant is promoted by funds of the Free State of Saxony.
In the plant, Solarion produces highly efficient and at the same time cost-effective thin-film solar modules using copper-indium-gallium-diselenide (CIGS). This technology has the highest efficiency potential in the photovoltaic thin-film sector. Thanks to the advanced material qualities as well as the patented manufacturing processes Solarion aims at a leading position on the photovoltaic market.
Among others the commitment of the large Asian group Walsin Lihwa Corp. facilitated the introduction of series production. With 40 million Euros its wholly owned subsidiary Ally Energy acquired an interest in October last year with 49 percent. Within the context of an extensive technological cooperation both companies will further develop the thin-film technology.
By means of Solarion’s ground breaking ceremony at the same time the development of the new industrial park Zwenkau-South is being initiated. The area with a size of 15 hectares is being developed by the Weidenhammer Packaging Group (WPG) together with the administration union BöhlenLippendorf. The WPG, one of the both leading suppliers of composite cans, composite drums and plastic containers worldwide, considerably extends its previous Zwenkau production facilities in the industrial area and now is delighted to be able to welcome the first neighbor.
“As a company that has been located in Zwenkau since 2006 we are fully convinced of the advantages of this location. The new industrial area provides us space for further growth of our plastics business. All the more, we are extremely pleased that with Solarion another globally acting company could be won for ‘Zwenkau South’. We are looking forward to a good neighborhood and cooperation”, adds Ralf Weidenhammer, MD of the Weidenhammer Packaging Group.
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