PVTIME – German photovoltaic (PV) module manufacturer Aleo Solar recently announced that it will gradually close its production line in Prenzlau, Brandenburg. The decision indicates that the company, which is part of Sino-American Silicon, is making an orderly exit from the German market in the face of industry challenges. The production line will be officially closed within the next few months.
Local newspaper Nordkurier previously reported that many employees had received redundancy notices and that the standard notice period for long-term employees would last until the end of June. Aleo Solar has now confirmed that approximately 110 employees will be affected by the closure and that the company will support them with a social plan and career reorientation.
Aleo Solar was founded in 2001 and started manufacturing PV modules in Prenzlau in 2002. Bosch acquired a majority stake in the company in 2009, but later closed its solar division. Aleo Solar was subsequently acquired by a consortium of Asian investors led by Sunrise Global Solar Energy, a subsidiary of Sino-American Silicon. The factory mainly produced specialised solar modules for niche markets. In recent years, however, the global price war has made it difficult for Aleo Solar to maintain competitive production. These challenges also forced other German module manufacturers to cease production last year.
William Chen, CEO of Aleo Solar, said this was not an easy decision for the company, but one that reflects the current reality of the solar industry. Aleo Solar is one of the few remaining German PV manufacturers with a 25-year history and has successfully weathered the first major solar crisis. It is expected that policymakers will take timely action to strengthen solar manufacturing in Europe.
 module manufacturer Aleo Solar recently announced that it will gradually close its production line in Prenzlau, Brandenburg. The decision indicates that the company, which is…){kind=link}