Solar Cells Info

* ErSol sets the first machines in place in new thin film production
* Nominal capacity of 40 MWp planned as early as end of 2007

source: ErSol Solar Energy AG / press release 18 Dec 2006
http://www.ersol.de/en/pm.php?type=pm&id=125&year=2006

The first production machines were today brought into place at ErSol Thin Film GmbH, a subsidiary of the ErSol Group, at its new factory for amorphous thin film modules in Erfurt. This marks the start of the tool-move-in phase for production facilities following a five-month construction period. “The first machine to be installed will be the ‘Kai 1200’ type PECVD coating plant built by Swiss Oerlikon Solar, a global leader in thin film and vacuum technology. In future this will enable us to deposit the amorphous silicon layer on the glass substrate,” Dr. Lutz Mittelstädt, Managing Director of ErSol Thin Film GmbH, enthusiastically describes this first stage in the construction of the new facility at the Erfurt Freight Traffic Centre. Machines and systems are due to be set in place in a further five phases in the coming months. These include the so-called TCO (transparent conductive oxide) systems, laser cutting systems and related systems for the production of thin film solar modules.

ErSol is now planning to achieve a nominal capacity of 40 MWp in the thin film division by the end of 2007. “Originally, we had not proposed to reach this level until a year later. Our thin film production capacity can now grow faster than originally expected. This expedited expansion is possible thanks to the good cooperation with plant supplier Oerlikon Solar,” Karsten Weltzien, Managing Director of ErSol Thin Film, comments on the expansion of thin film capacity. The ErSol Group is investing over € 80 million in the Erfurt production plant for thin film modules. Currently the ErSol Group has more than 30 employees at ErSol Thin Film. The thin film subsidiary’s workforce is scheduled to increase to about 160 in the next two years.