SolarWorld Taps Polycrystalline Technology to Expand U.S. Output of Industry-Leading Sunmodule™ Solar Panels

Sunmodule™ Plus poly solar panels ranging to 240-watt-peak are available now

HILLSBORO, Ore. – SolarWorld's premium-quality Sunmodule™ solar panels, manufactured in the USA using monocrystalline technology for more than 35 years, now also incorporate high-performance polycrystalline technology. SolarWorld factories in Oregon and California are producing polycrystalline solar panels featuring power densities of 230 and 240 watts peak.

The largest and most experienced U.S. producer of crystalline silicon photovoltaic panels, SolarWorld is dramatically expanding supplies of high-performance silicon solar panels of both crystal types at a time of heightened worldwide demand. The company's U.S. facilities have reached a national leadership capacity of 500 MW. The move further demonstrates SolarWorld's bold commitment to developing and serving solar market segments in the Americas, even amid diminishing industry output there.

SolarWorld's U.S.-made Sunmodule™ Plus poly panels come with the same high quality, performance and reliability as well as 25-year linear performance guarantee as its monocrystalline panels. SolarWorld's facilities in Hillsboro, Oregon, and Camarillo, California, still undertake every step in the monocrystalline value chain – crystals, wafers, cells and panels. Now they also are ramping up production of polycrystalline cells and panels.

"In these times of tight supplies, our years of commitment to building much greater production volume and versatility are paying off for our customers in the Americas with the best that both silicon technologies offer," said Kevin Kilkelly, president of SolarWorld Americas. "Our production advances will equip our installer and distribution partners with everything they need to succeed in a market that demands nothing less than domestic production, proven reliability and high performance."

The basic distinction between the two technologies results from differing processes for crystallizing silicon. In the monocrystalline process, a single cylindrical crystal slowly grows inside a furnace. In the polycrystalline process, molten silicon forms multiple crystal lattices as it quickly cools in a square mold.

About SolarWorld (www.solarworld-usa.com)

SolarWorld (ISIN: DE0005108401) is a worldwide leader in offering brand-name, high-quality, crystalline silicon solar-power technology. The company’s strength is its fully integrated solar production. From silicon as the raw material through wafers, cells and panels all the way to turn-key solar systems of all sizes, the group combines all stages of the solar value chain. The central business activity is selling high-quality panels into the installation and distribution trades and wafers to the international solar cell industry. Group headquarters are located in Bonn, Germany, with sales sites in Singapore, South Africa, Spain, France as well as in the U.S. state of California. The group’s largest production facilities operate in Freiberg, Germany, and Hillsboro in the U.S. state of Oregon. Sustainability is the basis of the group strategy. Under the name Solar2World, the group supports community aid projects using off-grid solar-power solutions in developing countries, exemplifying sustainable economic development. Worldwide, SolarWorld employs about 3,300 people. SolarWorld AG has been quoted on the stock exchange since 1999 and today is listed on, among others, the TecDAX and ÖkoDAX as well as in the sustainability index NAI.

Media Contact:

Devon Cichoski
Media relations manager
SolarWorld Americas
4650 Adohr Lane
Camarillo, CA 93012
Mobile: 805-377-2905
Office: 805-388-6388
devon.cichoski(at)solarworld-usa.com