News

17 June 2010

 

Odersun inaugurates manufacturing plant for customized CIS PV modules

Odersun AG of Berlin, Germany, which designs and manufactures flexible thin-film solar cells and modules using proprietary CISCuT (copper indium disulfide on copper tape) reel-to-reel manufacturing technology, has inaugurated its second solar factory ‘SunTwo’, sited on former army grounds in Fürstenwalde (Spree), Germany. Odersun has invested nearly €50m on SunTwo’s concept, planning, construction and equipment.

At the opening ceremony, Odersun gave Economics Minister of the State of Brandenburg Ralf Christoffers a new type of solar module as an example of the possibilities of individual solar design. The firm has also donated modules for a solar installation at a sport gym in Fürstenwalde.

Picture: Odersun CEO Dr Hein van der Zeeuw (right) presents customized solar module to Ralf Christoffers, Minister of Economics of the State of Brandenburg (middle), and a standard module to Fuerstenwalde mayor Hans-Ulrich Hengst (left).

Odersun had already started ramping up production at SunTwo when it achieved IEC 61646 certification this January. Based on Odersun’s proprietary CISCuT technology, both standard as well as customized thin-film solar modules are now produced in volume at the facility.

Odersun says that its technology allows full customization of solar modules, which is necessary to meet the demanding functional and aesthetic standards of modern architecture, with adaptability being key to building-integrated photovoltaic (BiPV) application. Odersun’s proprietary reel-to-reel manufacturing process uses flexible copper tape as a basic component and carrier for the CIS solar cell, enabling the fabrication of modules to customer specifications in any size, power and design.

“Odersun is well positioned to serve the growing demand for customer-specific solar products in the market,” believes Odersun’s CEO Dr Hein van der Zeeuw. Currently, 111 staff are working in four shifts in the fully integrated manufacturing of thin-film solar cells and modules. Staffing should rise to 150 by the end of this year. Initial capacity is about 20MW, but this could be expanded to 30MW by installing two additional production lines at the plant.

“The Odersun factory is well positioned in the German capital region: 40% of all solar modules produced in Germany today come from Berlin-Brandenburg,” said Brandenburg’s Minister President Matthias Platzeck at the event.

“The Energy Strategy 2020 of the State of Brandenburg defines the increase of the overall share of renewable energies in primary energy consumption to 20% until the year 2020. In view of the climate change and energy policy perspectives this target is mandatory,” said Christoffers. “With a share of currently 16%, this target is already in sight.” Brandenburg is one of the top states in Germany with respect to the use and production of renewable energies, he claims.

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