Weekly Intelligence Brief

ersol focuses on development of micromorphous technology

8 May 2009

ersol intends to reach a nominal capacity of 100 MWp by the end of 2010, and 200 MWp by the end of 2012 for its thin film technology.

The company says in order to be able to complete its expansion plans, approval of EU subsidies is required.

In terms of sales in 2009, the company is assuming an output of more than 180 MWp for solar cells and around 30MWp in the thin-film segment.

Last year, the group allocated ersol Thin Film GmbH €28 million for investment, particularly in the installation of production plants for the introduction of micromorphous technology (the first mass-produced modules are expected to roll off the production line this year) and in research and development.

ersol Thin Film focuses on the raw materials-saving thin film technology and operates a production line for thin film modules based on amorphous silicon. It is also preparing the amorphous microcrystalline tandem cell technology for silicon thin-film technology.

The ersol Group, which generated consolidated revenue of €309.6 million in financial year 2008, shared that the sales growth was driven by an increase in cell production (output of 123 MWp) and the start of thin-film production (output of 20 MWp). Due to the financial crisis, delays in customers' projects in the last two quarters led to a slightly downward trend in the sales of thin-film modules over the course of the year.