SCHOTT Solar AG, the parent company of SCHOTT Solar PV, Inc., reported an increase in sales of photovoltaic modules for the fourth consecutive year. For its fiscal year ending September 30, 2011, that percentage of growth was in the double digits, despite a rather difficult market environment.
In addition, the company announced excellent progress toward putting its newly developed high-efficiency technologies to use in market-ready products. Nevertheless, the entire solar industry still finds itself facing severe price pressures and considerable overcapacities. For this reason, SCHOTT Solar AG plans to adjust its production capacity in the area of cell manufacturing to suit current market conditions.
This measure will affect cell manufacturing at the site in Alzenau, Germany. The goal is to avoid terminations as much as possible. Alzenau will continue to serve as SCHOTT Solar’s Competence Center for Research & Development. As Dr. Martin Heming, CEO of SCHOTT Solar AG, explains, “SCHOTT Solar will be able to assert itself as a quality brand, even in a challenging market environment. Nevertheless, we must now establish the prerequisites that will allow us to remain a strong player in the solar market.”
SCHOTT Solar to remain a leading supplier of high-quality products
SCHOTT Solar will continue to serve its customers as a reliable supplier of premium solar modules known for their high quality and durability. In fact, SCHOTT Solar introduced new, high-efficiency technologies for both mono- and polycrystalline solar modules only recently. The company is currently developing these technologies for use in upcoming product models. For instance, the new solar module SCHOTT PERFORM MONO that includes performance classes of up to 280 watts peak is scheduled to be launched in the second quarter of 2012.
Successful expansion of the international project business
After establishing a strong position for its distribution business, SCHOTT Solar has also been successful in expanding its international project business. The business unit “SCHOTT Solar Power Projects” was able to complete numerous projects in 2011, in Thailand, India, Greece, Italy, France and Germany, for example. Other major projects are already in planning in different parts of the world. SCHOTT’s photovoltaic activities include everything from direct sales of modules to power plant customers to the development, realization and sale of turnkey power plants to investors.