ersol Solar Cells Starts Second Solar Cell Factory in Germany

Erfurt, Germany [RenewableEnergyAccess.com] ersol’s Solar Cells division is celebrating its new solar cell production facility in Arnstadt, Germany, where the ersol Group is establishing a factory for crystalline silicon solar cells.

The planned investment volume totals around Euro 46 million [US$62.8 million]. This is in addition to its production site in Erfurt. “We are very happy to be taking this decisive step in building our second cell plant. The production of mono- and multicrystalline silicon solar cells has always been, and remains, at the core of the ersol Group. The capacity this will generate for us brings us steadily closer to our expansion target of 400 MWp [megawatt-peak] capacity by the end of 2010,” said Dr. Claus Beneking, CEO of ersol Solar Energy AG, of the Company’s future capacity expansion. On 41,000 square meters, the photovoltaic company is currently building a production facility of approximately 10,100 square meters. By the end of 2007, it is anticipated that this new plant will provide 100 MWp, and one year later 120 MWp, of nominal capacity. This would give the ersol Group a nominal capacity of 220 MWp for crystalline solar cells in 2008 at its Arnstadt and Erfurt sites. On a phased basis, the Arnstadt factory will create more than 150 permanent positions.