Solibro to benefit from network and investment, while allowing Hanergy access to its core technology
PVMate.com Today, Hanergy Holding Group Limited and Q.CELLS signed an agreement for Hanergy to acquire Q.CELLS’ thin-film subsidiary Solibro, at Hanergy’s headquarters in Beijing.
“Since the first meeting with the Hanergy management, a perfect strategic fit was obvious to us all”
.After exploring various available thin-film investment opportunities, Hanergy has decided to invest in the leading copper indium gallium diselenide (CIGS) co-evaporation technology that Solibro has developed over the last 25 years. After the completion of the acquisition, Solibro will ramp up to a yearly production capacity of 100 MW in Thalheim to supply Hanergy’s European customers.
“This acquisition is not solely about consolidating our position on a global and competitive market. It is also about creating synergies between our two organizations in order to provide our respective customers with added value”, said Li Hejun, Chairman of Hanergy.
Jason Chow, Senior Vice President of Hanergy Industrial PV Group added: “Solibro has a proven track record in thin-film CIGS technologies. Hanergy will provide the extensive network, the strong production capacity and the long term R&D investment. We are confident that the acquisition will enhance Solibro’s performance and capacity despite the industry’s current downturn.”
Q.CELLS evaluated several potential partners that would be able to fully develop the potential of CIGS thin-film technology and make best use of its Thalheim-based facilities. Solibro’s technology and manufacturing capacity, combined with Hanergy’s photovoltaic (PV) strategy, resulted in a fast and successful conclusion of the transaction. Moreover, Hanergy will not shrink Solibro’s workforce or change the company’s leadership; Solibro’s operations will remain unaffected, as will its after-sales service provided to customers.
“Since the first meeting with the Hanergy management, a perfect strategic fit was obvious to us all,” said Dr. Nedim Cen, CEO of Q.CELLS SE. “With Hanergy as a partner, the potential of Solibro’s CIGS thin-film technology and existing production capacity can be fully realized. We are even more pleased with the fact that Hanergy intends to retain our current workforce in Thalheim.”
About Hanergy
Incorporated in 1994, Hanergy Holding Group Limited is headquartered in Beijing and has subsidiaries in China, USA, UK, Italy, Netherlands, the Czech Republic, Singapore and Hong Kong. As China’s largest privately owned provider of renewable energy, Hanergy has an installed hydroelectric capacity of 6,000MW. Hanergy has also invested in solar thin-film R&D and production bases in order to reach a 3,000MW capacity by the end of 2012. For more information about Hanergy please visit www.hanergy.com.
About Q.CELLS
The Q.CELLS Group is one of the world’s leading photovoltaics companies and offers a wide range of photovoltaic solutions, from solar cells and modules to solar power plants. Q.CELLS’s products are developed and manufactured at its headquarters in Bitterfeld-Wolfen (Germany) and marketed via its global sales network. It also has a second production plant in Malaysia. More than 200 scientists and engineers at Q.CELLS are working to swiftly advance solar technology and achieve Q.CELLS’ twin aims: driving down the costs of photovoltaics quickly and permanently, and making solar power competitive. The close links between R&D and production enable Q.CELLS to rapidly translate cutting-edge innovation into mass production – and underpin its ambition to be at the forefront of photovoltaic technology. Q.CELLS SE is quoted in the Prime Standard on the Frankfurt Stock Exchange (QCE; ISIN DE0005558662).
About Solibro
Based in Solar Valley Thalheim, Germany, Solibro GmbH produces thin-film solar modules using CIGS (copper indium gallium diselenide) co-evaporation technology. Solibro solar modules, currently positioned under the brand name Q.SMART, hold the world record for thin-film modules in serial production since 2009 with efficiencies of up to 14.7 per cent (aperture area). Some 430 employees currently run two factories with a combined capacity of 135 MWp in Thalheim, Germany, as well as an R&D centre in Uppsala, Sweden. In order to significantly expand capacity and thereby reduce costs to industry leading levels, Q.CELLS had been looking for a suitable investor for Solibro for some time. To date Solibro has produced and sold more than 140 Megawatt peak of Q.SMART modules that have been installed in roof-top and utility scale projects for residential as well as commercial and industrial customers.
