• Initial investment in Taiwanese CIGS thin film manufacturer
• Minority stake costs single-digit amount in millions of euros
• Joint development of second thin film generation

centrotherm photovoltaics AG has purchased 14.4 percent of the share capital of Taiwanese CIGS thin film solar module manufacturer Sunshine PV Corp. Wholly-owned centrotherm photovoltaics subsidiary Photovoltaics Asia Invest Pte. Ltd., Singapore, has invested a single-digit amount in millions of euros in Sunshine as part of a capital increase. The stake is to be expanded to a total interest of around 25 percent early next year.
With the share purchase, centrotherm photovoltaics has taken an important strategic step to introduce new second-generation selenium plants at Sunshine, thereby advancing centrotherm photovoltaics’ CIGS thin film technology. The investment enables a close cooperation with Sunshine that allows manufacturing systems to be operated and further optimized under real mass production conditions.
"We are pleased to further develop this second thin-film generation jointly with Sunshine. CIGS thin-film technology offers enormous potential. With this step, we are backing this future market in a targeted manner”, comments Dr. Frank Stubhan, Chief Executive Officer (CEO) of centrotherm photovoltaics AG’s Thin Film Module division. "We are currently experiencing major interest for CIGS technology from potential new customers." Together with its Taiwanese customer, the South German company is working on boosting efficiency and throughput at the pilot plant. Sunshine is currently starting to sell the first modules from its Taiwanese production base.

1. centrotherm photovoltaics subsidiary FHR Anlagenbau receives major order for CIGS thin film solar cell production systems

   Delivery of roll-to-roll coating technology to Solarion Central component of a 20 megawatt production system FHR Anlagenbau GmbH, a wholly-owned...

2. centrotherm photovoltaics Thin Film Achievement – Successful Production of First CIGS modules for Taiwanese Customer

     Module area of 1.5 m² in mass production Group order book at around EUR 900 million Orders worth more...

3. centrotherm photovoltaics Grows Operating Earnings More than 30 percent in first half of 2010

     Full-year revenue forecast raised to between EUR 580 million to EUR 600 million Revenue in the first six months...

4. centrotherm photovoltaics Sells Turnkey Module Line to Austrian customer Kioto Photovoltaics

     50 megawatt turnkey system to start production in second half of 2011 in Carinthia Order volume in single-digit, million...