Innotech Solar Opens Optimization Facility

Norwegian company Innotech Solar ASA has commissioned a new solar factory in Halle/Saale. The plant will provide a hub for optimizing solar cells on an industrial scale. The official opening of the new facility is being performed by the Saxony-Anhalt State Minister of Sciences and Economic Affairs together with the Mayor of Halle, Dagmar Szabados. In future, solar cells manufactured by companies such as Bosch or Q-Cells will be tested and optimized at the factory in quantities of up to 20,000 per hour in a production area measuring 7,000 square meters. The first expansion phase has seen an investment of 20 million euros from the company, with local companies chiefly employed to construct the factory. Roughly 90% of the 50 new jobs created to date have been filled by applicants from the region, and a further 80 jobs and apprenticeships are set to be created in the next expansion phase.

Innotech Solar has developed an industrial process in which solar cells from different manufacturers are analysed and their impurities isolated using special lasers. This returns the cells to their full capacity. The high-quality cells are then used in Innotech Solar modules. Since far less energy and far fewer raw materials are used to refine solar cells than produce them from scratch, these solar modules are particularly eco-friendly. The company already tests, sorts and optimizes more cells today than any other supplier worldwide. It is also the only company to have specialized in such processes. The new production site is operated by ITS Halle Cell GmbH, a German subsidiary of the Norwegian module and cell manufacturer Innotech Solar ASA.

"Forward-looking companies such as Innotech Solar are what is needed for the energy revolution to succeed. The new factory in Halle Queis is another string to the bow of Saxony-Anhalt's Solar Valley. This is a European manufacturer that deliberately chose to locate its premises in Halle despite the wealth of other options available. That makes us particularly proud," said Prof. Dr. Birgitta Wolff, Minister of Sciences and Economic Affairs for the state of Saxony-Anhalt, as she opened the new factory.

Mayor of Halle, Dagmar Szabados: "Halle is not only a strong business location, the numerous renowned research institutes based here provide excellent conditions for research and development to flourish. Innotech Solar develops innovative processes for optimizing cells and also adds to the richness of our research environment through its own research centre."

"After a construction period that lasted around eight months we are now taking an important step toward expanding our production capacity in Germany. Alongside our plants in Norway and Sweden, the factory in Halle is the third constructed by Innotech Solar. This demonstrates our support for European production," states Dr. Uwe Schönebaum, General Manager of ITS Halle Cell GmbH. In parallel to this venture, Innotech Solar is also expanding business in Asia. At the beginning of 2011, the company opened a logistics centre in Hong Kong to add to its existing sales and purchasing office in Shanghai.