SolarWorld Expands Presence and Product Availability
Camarillo/Bonn, August 8 - SolarWorld AG today announced a doubling of cell-level thru-put at its main U.S. production facility in Camarillo, CA, starting in August and continuing through the end of the year.
"We are pleased to announce this expanded and firm availability of product through year's end," said Raju Yenamandra, Sales Manager America of SolarWorld California. The company is a 100-percent-subsidiary of SolarWorld AG, headquartered in Bonn, Germany. "We are committed to satisfying the product needs and requirements of our channel partners where and when it is needed starting now."
Cell-level thru-put for the second half of 2006 is expected to be double that of the first half of the year. This is a significant increase given the industry-wide silicon shortage experienced over the past year and expected to continue well into 2007. Raju Yenamandra: "With our higher PTC ratings, sold under the brand name SunModules®, our products are in demand by customers to ensure maximum rebate payments in states such as California with its buy-down programs."
SolarWorld Industries America owns the two U.S. production facilities formerly run by Shell Solar Industries – a silicon crystals-growing production site in Vancouver, WA, and the integrated production facility of solar silicon wafers, cells and modules in Camarillo, CA. It is the culmination of expansion efforts by SolarWorld started in 2005 with the establishment of a sales office and distribution center in southern California. "In the U.S., we are now the largest producer of solar technology," states Frank Asbeck, Chairman and CEO of SolarWorld AG.
About the SolarWorld group
The SolarWorld group (ISIN: DE0005108401) is a worldwide leader in offering brand-name, high-quality, crystalline solar-power technology. Its strength is its fully integrated solar production. From silicon as the raw material through wafers, cells and modules all the way to turn-key solar systems, including recycling, the group combines all stages of the solar value chain. The central business activity is selling quality modules into the installation and distribution trades and crystalline wafers to the international solar cell industry. Group headquarters are located in Bonn, Germany. Production sites are to be found in Germany, the United States and South Korea. 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 care projects using off-grid solar-power solutions in emerging economies and developing countries, exemplifying sustainable economic development. Worldwide, SolarWorld employs more than 2,700 people. SolarWorld AG has been quoted on the stock exchange since 1999 and today is listed on, among others, the TecDAX, ÖkoDAX, Dow Jones STOXX 600 as well as in the sustainability indices DAXglobal Alternative Energy and NAI.
www.solarworld-usa.com
Media Contact:
Ben Santarris
Public affairs manager
SolarWorld
25300 N.W. Evergreen Road
Hillsboro, OR 97124
Mobile: 503 927 9858
Office: 503 693 5189
ben.santarris(at)solarworld-usa.com