Air Liquide plans large thin-film production unit in Germany

Air Liquide is to build a large thin-film production unit to serve customers in the world's largest Solar Valley in Thalheim near Leipzig, Germany. The unit will be built to accommodate the increasing demand for thin-film technology in the area. The company will produce more than 38,000 tons of nitrogen per year, representing an investment of around €10 million.

Air Liquide will also ensure the nitrogen supply for Sunfilm and Calyxo, subsidiary of Q-Cells.

Guy Salzgeber, Vice-President of the European Industrial Business and member of the Air Liquide Executive Committee, said, "By combining the needs of the major companies and investing in a single large unit, we are pleased of being able to offer a very energy effective and flexible solution for the nitrogen consumption of customers in Thalheim.

These new long term agreements with PV market leaders and the new unit to come confirm the success of our global solar offer as well as illustrate our commitment to this fast changing industry and specifically to this major site for the development of the photovoltaic industry in Germany. The photovoltaic business is at the crossroads of Energy and the Environment, two growth drivers for the Air Liquide Group".

The new production unit is due to start up in 2010.

 

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