Centrosolar partners with Qimonda in new 100MW solar cell joint venture

Facebook
Twitter
LinkedIn
Reddit
Email

A new joint venture crystalline solar cell manufacturer has been
created with the announcement that Munich, Germany-based PV systems
manufacturer Centrosolar Group AG and Munich-headquartered Qimonda AG
plan to build and operate a 100MWp facility at Qimonda’s Vila do Conde,
Portugal semiconductor packaging plant. Qimonda is a major
semiconductor memory manufacturer.

Approximately €70 million is expected to be invested in the first phase of the joint venture project with Qimonda having a 51 percent stake and Centrosolar a 49 percent share.

This article requires Premium SubscriptionBasic (FREE) Subscription

Unlock unlimited access for 12 whole months of distinctive global analysis

Photovoltaics International is now included.

  • Regular insight and analysis of the industry’s biggest developments
  • In-depth interviews with the industry’s leading figures
  • Unlimited digital access to the PV Tech Power journal catalogue
  • Unlimited digital access to the Photovoltaics International journal catalogue
  • Access to more than 1,000 technical papers
  • Discounts on Solar Media’s portfolio of events, in-person and virtual

Or continue reading this article for free

“By entering the solar industry, we are addressing an attractive market with stable and high growth rates. We will leverage our core competencies in silicon-based, high-quality mass production to generate a new revenue stream for Qimonda,” said Kin Wah Loh, President and Chief Executive Officer of Qimonda AG. “Together with our experienced solar partner Centrosolar we have developed a capital and resource efficient setup to start this promising new business.”

Dr. Alexander Kirsch, Chairman of the Management Board of Centrosolar Group AG said: “Within the last years, Centrosolar has moved into a new dimension in regard to the size of the corporation and single projects. Therefore, it has become necessary to establish an own manufacturing brand for solar cells. With Qimonda as a partner, we are able to guarantee a competitive quality manufacturing of solar cells, which in the future will be produced inhouse and destined for our expanding module production sites in Germany and the Netherlands.”

The companies expect 70 percent of the financing to be provided by local banks, including additional funding packages provided by Portuguese state authorities in accordance with European funding regulations.

Qimonda is expected to utilize some of its semiconductor process technology knowledge in developing solar cells with efficiencies above 16 percent and will also leverage scrapped silicon wafers to obtain better wafer supply contracts, known as tolling.

The companies have secured 500 MWp of solar wafers over five years in a long-term supply deal with LDK Solar.

Construction at Qimonda’s site in Vila do Conde, Portugal is scheduled for mid-2008 and should be ready for equipment in early 2009. Initial production ramp is expected in the second half of 2009 with a capacity of up to 30 million solar cells per year (equivalent to about 100 MegaWatt peak), and will employ approximately 150 employees.

 

Read Next

July 11, 2025
Sabanci Renewables, the North American subsidiary of Turkish conglomerate Sabanci Holdings, is building a 156MWdc solar project in McLennan County, Texas.
July 11, 2025
Renewable electricity generation has grown more than twice as fast as total global electricity generation since 2012, according to the International Renewable Energy Agency (IRENA).
July 11, 2025
Indian independent power producer (IPP) Juniper Green Energy has commissioned an additional 71MWp at Chapalgaon Solar Project in Solapur, Maharashtra.
July 11, 2025
The Asia Pacific (APAC) region has accounted for 69% of the 589GW solar PV inverters shipped in 2024, according to a report from analyst Wood Mackenzie.
Premium
July 11, 2025
Analysis: A presidential executive order issued on Monday tightening up project start rules is causing concern among developers.
Premium
July 11, 2025
According to the latest pricing data from the Silicon Industry Branch, released on 9 July, the transaction price range for n-type dense polysilicon has oscillated between RMB34,000-38,000/ton (US$4,741-5,299/ton).

Subscribe to Newsletter

Upcoming Events

Media Partners, Solar Media Events
September 2, 2025
Mexico City, Mexico
Solar Media Events
September 16, 2025
Athens, Greece
Solar Media Events
September 22, 2025
Bilbao, Spain
Solar Media Events
September 30, 2025
Seattle, USA
Solar Media Events
October 1, 2025
London, UK