Growth in the international solar markets and a clear focus on high efficiency technology made in Germany and in USA were the key factors behind SolarWorld’s performance in fiscal year 2015, as the company points out in its Annual Group Report 2015 released today.
In fiscal year 2016, SolarWorld will continue its growth with its high-tech strategy and bifacial solar modules. Dr.-Ing. E. h. Frank Asbeck, CEO of SolarWorld AG: “In 2016, we will continue to offer our customers added value and further strengthen our technology and quality leadership.” In this respect, SolarWorld has launched the BISUN solar module, which captures the sunlight with its front as well as with its rear side and thus generates up to 25% more electricity using the same space.
In fiscal year 2016, SolarWorld wants to increase its shipments by more than 20%, compared with the previous year (2015: 1,159 MW). By mid-March 2016, SolarWorld had generated shipments and orders amounting to more than 800 MW. In line with shipments, group revenue should grow by more than 20%, too, compared with the previous year (2015: € 763 million), striving to reach up to € 1 billion in 2016.
In its Annual Group Report 2015, SolarWorld AG confirms the increase of its groupwide shipments by 33% to 1,159MW (2014: 873MW), which the company preliminarily announced on February 1, 2016. Consolidated revenue in 2015 also grew by 33 percent to € 763 (2014: 573) million.
In 2015, earnings before interest, taxes, depreciation and amortization (EBITDA) totaled € 40.8 million and thus increased in comparison with preliminarily announced figures (preliminary EBITDA: € 35 million). In 2014, EBITDA amounted to 1.6 million (adjusted for one-off effects).
Earnings before interest and taxes (EBIT) improved to € -4.2 (preliminary EBIT: –10) million in 2015. In 2014, EBIT reached -43.8 million (adjusted for one-off effects).
Philipp Koecke, CFO of SolarWorld AG: “In 2016, SolarWorld wants to invest further and to improve its performance in the operating business, compared with 2015.” On this basis, earnings before interest, taxes, depreciation and amortization (EBITDA) will increase significantly in 2016 (2015: € 41 million). Earnings before interest and taxes (EBIT) should be positive in fiscal year 2016 (2015: € -4 million). Typical seasonal effects may, however, lead to different results in individual quarters. Over the course of the whole year, SolarWorld expects its EBIT to be in the lower double digit million range.