Walsin Lihwa will invest EUR 40 million and take a 49% stake of Solarion AG, a specialist in flexible thin film solar cells and modules, through its wholly owned subsidiary, Ally Energy. The investmen…
Walsin Lihwa will invest EUR 40 million and take a 49% stake of Solarion AG, a specialist in flexible thin film solar cells and modules, through its wholly owned subsidiary, Ally Energy. The investment has received a grant of more than EUR 20 million thanks to the involvement of the Development Bank of Saxony. During the first stage, an integrated cell and module factory with an annual production output of 20 megawatts and a staff of 140 employees will be constructed near the BMW Leipzig assembly plant, followed by plans for a manufacturing plant with 180 megawatts of annual production capacity. Both parties have also signed agreements on technical cooperation and licensing, including the enhancing of thin-film technology. We are pleased that we have found Walsin Lihwa, a global player and a strong partner, to support our long-planned global expansion strategy of cost leadership, explains Dr. Karsten Otte. Through our advanced technology and novel solar module properties, we will significantly decrease the cost of photovoltaic power generation. We want to express our thanks especially to the Saxon Development Bank, CMS Hasche Sigle Dsseldorf, Euflex, Apricum and the Economic Development Offices of Saxony and Leipzig, Dr. Otte concluded. CIGS technology has the highest efficiency potential in the photovoltaic thin film area. Together with the favourable cost structure of Solarion“s processes, we will attain a leadership position in the photovoltaics market, said Yu-Lon Chiao. A sustainable energy supply is one of the most important social and political challenges. Therefore, the cooperation with Solarion is an important step in the business development of Walsin Lihwa. In the past years Solarion has developed a powerful solar technology in cooperation with research and industrial partners. I am especially pleased that this technology will be transferred into mass manufacturing together with the Asian company Walsin here in Central Europe. This shows the high quality of this location, said Sven Morlok, Saxon State Minister of Economic Affairs, Labor and Transport at the signing of the agreements. The mayor of Leipzig, Burkhard Jung, remarks: A company with such an innovative technology fits perfectly to our city and is an important addition to the development of the Energy City of Leipzig. Solarion AG creates many jobs in an area where we need them urgently. I hope the company is undergoing a fast development into a very strong partner as a member of our cluster energy and environmental technology.