Intersolar 2009

SCHOTT Solar prepares itself for the growing U.S. market

·           New plant opens in the U.S. with the world’s first combined solar manufacturing

·           Further expansion of production capacity in Europe

·           New module generation for roof-integrated solar systems the exhibition highlight

Mainz/Munich, May 28, 2009 – SCHOTT Solar AG continues to expand its production capacities in the fields of Concentrated Solar Power (CSP) and Photovoltaics (PV). At the beginning of May, the solar company celebrated the opening of a new manufacturing facility for photovoltaic modules and receivers for solar thermal power plants in Albuquerque, New Mexico (U.S.A.). This makes SCHOTT Solar the only company in the world that produces both high-quality receivers for solar power plants that utilize parabolic trough technology, as well as components for photovoltaic applications.

"Solar energy offers one of the most important alternatives for securing the power supply of the future, therefore investing in solar energy today is clearly the right step for us to take. By doing so, we create stable jobs that are extremely valuable in uncertain times like these," emphasizes Dr. Martin Heming, Chief Executive Officer (CEO) of SCHOTT Solar AG.

Technology for solar power plants and photovoltaics under one roof

SCHOTT Solar opened a new plant in Albuquerque, New Mexico, on May 11 and has invested more than 100 million dollars in the new production facility that created 350 new jobs initially. Plans call for both the number of employees and the production capacity to continue to increase in the years to come. The new facility in Albuquerque is now the world’s first manufacturing site at which photovoltaic modules and receivers for solar thermal power plants are to be manufactured under one roof. During the first phase, the annual production capacity for photovoltaic modules will be as high as 85 MW. With respect to receivers, the company plans to achieve an annual production capacity of up to 400 MW.

Besides this new facility in Albuquerque, SCHOTT Solar has also further expanded its sites in Aznalcóllar (Spain), Alzenau (Germany) and Valasske Mezirici (Czech Republic). In the field of photovoltaics, a total of 360 megawatts of module capacity is to be achieved by the end of the fiscal year (ends September 30, 2009). The CSP division plans to achieve a production capacity of one gigawatt of electrical output.

"With our manufacturing sites in Europe and the United States, we now have local presence in what we consider to be the key markets for solar technology," notes Dr. Martin Heming in commenting on the internationalization strategy at SCHOTT Solar.

Exhibition highlight 2009

SCHOTT Solar announced a completely new generation of modules for roof-integrated solar systems at Intersolar. The modules of the new InDaX 225 Series actually replace conventional roofing tiles and yet perform two different functions: They protect the house from wind and weather at the same time that they produce environmentally friendly electricity – and actually look great, too. With a nominal output of more than 200 W, the new series delivers even more energy to the roof. The new products are expected to be available for purchase starting in March 2010.

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SCHOTT InDaX™ is a registered trademark of SCHOTT Solar AG.

Further information is available under http://www.schottsolar.com

Press photographs are available for downloading under www.schott-pictures.net