On Tuesday evening, at a ceremony in Freiberg, Germany, SolarWorld AG presented its first supplier award in recognition of advancements in the field of solar technology. The award winners in various categories were Kostal, Germany, 3M, USA, and Gigasolar, Taiwan. The ceremony took part in the context of an international supplier conference in Freiberg, where SolarWorld’s largest production facility is located.
“The award recognizes companies that have made a particular contribution to our production in Germany and the U.S. towards our aim of providing clean electricity,” said Dr.-Ing. E. h. Frank Asbeck, CEO of SolarWorld AG. “We rely on our suppliers to help us implement plans for the cost-efficient production and ever increasing efficiency of our solar cells.” The winners in the categories of sustainability, performance and technology were chosen from a total of ten nominees. From this year onwards, Bonn-based SolarWorld AG plans to award the prize among its approximately 3,000 suppliers every year.
Kostal Solar Electric received the technology award for the joint development of a so-called battery inverter. The device, marketed by SolarWorld under the brand name of SunPac K, facilitates the use and storage of solar power generated by private households on their own roofs. Battery storage of solar power will become a matter of course in the context of decentralized solar power generation.
The U.S. company 3M’s Renewable Energy Division, a manufacturer of back sheets and other materials for solar modules, received the SolarWorld award for outstanding achievements in the field of sustainability and environmental compatibility. Special recognition was given to the company’s impressive sustainability report. “Sustainable products require not only sustainable corporate strategies but also suppliers committed to the idea of sustainability,” said Asbeck.
SolarWorld‘s performance award, which recognizes achievements in the commercial, logistic and quality fields, went to the Taiwanese paste manufacturer Gigasolar Materials Corporation. According to the presentation speech, the award was presented to the company for its excellent logistics performance and product quality.