Qimonda and Centrosolar Group to Jointly Manufacture Solar Cells
By Raju Shanbhag, TMCnet Contributing Editor /May 5, 2008
Source: TMCNet
http://internetcommunications.tmcnet.com/topics/broadband-mobile/articles/27056-qimonda-centrosolar-group-jointly-manufacture-solar-cells.htm
Qimonda (News – Alert), a manufacturer of memory products, and Centrosolar Group, a German solar company, have entered into an agreement to jointly build, equip and operate a solar cell manufacturing plant. The joint venture, which is owned 49 percent by Centrosolar and 51 percent by Qimonda Solar GmbH, will produce solar cells based on silicon. Apart from contributing its know how to get important access to silicon supply, Qimonda will also contribute its existing know-how in silicon-based mass production.
The commencement of fab construction at Qimonda’s site in Vila do Conde, Portugal is scheduled for mid 2008 and is subject to approval by the relevant authorities. The facility is expected to be ready for equipment early in 2009 and may start production in the second half of 2009. The new facility is expected to employ about 150 employees and is planned to have an initial capacity of up to 30 million solar cells per year (equivalent to about 100 MegaWatt peak). Also, the company has completed silicon supply agreement with LDK Solar Co., Ltd., Xinyu City, China.
Alexander Kirsch, Chairman of the Management Board of Centrosolar Group said: “Within the last years, Centrosolar has moved into a new dimension in regard to the size of the corporation and single projects. Therefore, it has become necessary to establish an own manufacturing brand for solar cells. With Qimonda as a partner, we are able to guarantee a competitive quality manufacturing of solar cells, which in the future will be produced inhouse and destined for our expanding module production sites in Germany and the Netherlands.”
Qimonda believes that by addressing an attractive market with stable and high growth rates by entering the solar industry. The company plans to generate a new revenue stream for Qimonda by leveraging core competencies in silicon-based, high-quality mass production.