Global Solar Energy to produce thin-film solar cells in Berlin
25 January 2007, Tucson/Berlin, Germany
Source: Adhoc_news_de/DGAP-news
http://www.ad-hoc-news.de/CorporateNews/en/10431734/DGAP-News-Global-Solar-Energy-to-produce-thin-film-solar
Global Solar Energy, Inc., has announced that it is to invest approximately EUR 30 million to set up a production facility for thin-film solar cells in Germany. The facility, which is to be built at the Berlin-Adlershof science and technology park, will have in two steps a production capacity of round about 30 megawatts. Production is scheduled to commence at the Berlin facility in the first half of 2008. The company also announced that capacity at its site in Tucson, Arizona, is to be expanded from its current level of 4 megawatts to 40 megawatts. The Global Solar Energy Group has already sold 80 percent of its planned 2008 production of 40 megawatts. Global Solar Energy’s largest customer in 2008 will be Berlin-based SOLON AG, which has held a strategic stake in the company since April 2006.
Global Solar Energy uses copper-indium-gallium-selenide (CIGS) in the manufacture of its thin-film solar cells. This technology is not reliant on the raw material silicon, which is currently in very short supply, and involves applying the photoactive layer to a flexible steel film. With an average efficiency level of more than ten percent, the solar cells manufactured by Global Solar Energy are amongst the most efficient currently on the market. They can be used both in the production of flexible products and for conventional solar modules.
Dr. Ilka Luck has been appointed Managing Director of the recently established German subsidiary Global Solar Energy Deutschland GmbH, which is wholly owned by Global Solar Energy, Inc. With a doctorate in physics and as a founder and former Managing Director of a thin-film photovoltaics company, Dr. Luck brings to the company a wealth of technical knowledge and management experience.
Mike Gering, CEO and President of Global Solar Energy Inc.: ‘The expansion of our production capacity in Tucson and Berlin puts us in a position to manufacture our high-grade solar cells on a new, industrial scale, which will enable us to become a leading international supplier of thin-film solar cells. We are delighted to have been able to recruit Dr. Ilka Luck as Managing Director for our German subsidiary. Her technical and commercial experience will accelerate the growth of GSE Deutschland.’
Dr. Ilka Luck, Managing Director of Global Solar Energy Deutschland GmbH: ‘I was very happy to take on the job of building up the German operations of Global Solar Energy. The geographical proximity to our technology partner SOLON and other companies and research establishments working in the same field at the Berlin-Adlershof technology park provides the ideal environment for the task.’
Dr. Lars Podlowski, CTO of SOLON AG: ‘We are delighted that we have been able to persuade our American partners to invest in Berlin. This gives us the opportunity to strengthen our technical collaboration and gives us access to non-silicon-dependent solar cells, which will provide the foundation for the continuing growth of SOLON AG.’
Global Solar Energy Deutschland GmbH
Dr. Ilka Luck Managing Director c/o SOLON AG Ederstrasse 16 12059 Berlin
Tel.: +49 (0)30 81 87 91 01 Fax: +49 (0)30 81 87 91 10
E-Mail: info@globalsolar.com