CENTROSOLAR Sonnenstromfabrik plays host to Premier Sellering

On August 1 the Premier of Mecklenburg-Western Pomerania, Erwin Sellering, visited CENTROSOLAR Sonnenstromfabrik in Wismar. Dr Alexander Kirsch, CEO of CENTROSOLAR Group AG, and Ralf Hennigs, Managing Director of CENTROSOLAR Sonnenstromfabrik, welcomed the state’s leader to the ultramodern production plant for photovoltaic modules, which is one of the largest solar module manufacturing facilities in Europe. During his 60-minute tour of the plant, Sellering was able to witness how top-quality solar modules are manufactured. The premier was accompanied by Tilo Gundlack (State Assembly candidate for Wismar), Birgit Hesse (Chief Administrator for North West Mecklenburg District) and Thomas Beyer (Mayor of Wismar).

In the course of their tour the politicians were impressed by the high quality of the modules with the Made in Germany cachet, which are sold by Centrosolar AG in Germany and by its subsidiaries in Europe, the USA and Canada. “Renewable energies represent a huge opportunity for Mecklenburg-Western Pomerania. We are delighted to have the plant of such a key solar player as CENTROSOLAR in our state,” acknowledged Sellering after inspecting the advanced production facilities at Wismar.

Sonnenstromfabrik employs more than 450 people and is therefore one of the major employers in Mecklenburg-Western Pomerania. CENTROSOLAR is currently extending production operations by building a second plant; by the end of this year its production capacity will reach an annual 350 MWp, an increase of 75 percent. By then, Sonnenstromfabrik will be capable of turning out over 7,000 solar modules daily to supply customers not just in Europe, but also in the USA and Asia. The Taiwanese Semiconductor Manufacturing Company alone will be purchasing 100 MWp per year.

About CENTROSOLAR Group AG:
The listed company CENTROSOLAR Group AG, Munich, (stock exchange code WKN 514850) is one of the leading suppliers of photovoltaic (PV) systems for roofs and key components, with over 1,000 employees in Europe and North America and annual revenue in excess of EUR 400 million (2010). Its product range comprises solar integrated systems, modules, inverters, mounting systems and solar glass. It generates around half its revenue internationally. There are CENTROSOLAR branches in Spain, Italy, France, Greece, Switzerland, the Netherlands, the UK, Canada and the USA.

CENTROSOLAR manufactures solar glass at plants in Fürth (Germany) and Huzhou (China) as well as photovoltaic modules at a production plant in Wismar (Germany). Over the past two years, the production lines for the finishing of glass have been substantially extended in response to rising demand and now have an annual production capacity of eight million square metres. Module manufacturing was also stepped up quite substantially in response to soaring demand. The module plant certified to DIN ISO 9001:2008 in Wismar is one of the largest and most efficient such plants in Europe, with an annual capacity currently of 200 MWp, and is to be upgraded to 350 MWp in the course of the year.