Media witch hunt blamed for Hannes Kuhn resignation from Solar Millennium

September 26, 2011
Facebook
Twitter
LinkedIn
Reddit
Email

Despite boardroom spats, technology deviation, and financial concerns, Solar Millennium said that Hannes Kuhn has resigned from company's supervisory board with immediate effect.

“The media campaign directed against me has now started to affect my family and my private life, reaching a level where objective discussion becomes impossible,” wrote Kuhn in a resignation letter. “In light of this media witchhunt [sic], I have decided to resign my position on the supervisory board with immediate effect and good cause.”

This article requires Premium SubscriptionBasic (FREE) Subscription

Try Premium for just $1

  • Full premium access for the first month at only $1
  • Converts to an annual rate after 30 days unless cancelled
  • Cancel anytime during the trial period

Premium Benefits

  • Expert industry analysis and interviews
  • Digital access to PV Tech Power journal
  • Exclusive event discounts

Or get the full Premium subscription right away

Or continue reading this article for free

“Recent accusations made against me in the form of countless systematic and primarily anonymous criminal complaints are unsupported and without foundation. Naturally, I fully cooperated with the authorities from the very beginning. Since the day Solar Millennium was founded almost 13 years ago, I have always acted exclusively in the interest of the company,” added Kuhn.

In a statement, Solar Millennium’s board said, “The Board expects that this personal decision helps to put an end to the public discussion regarding his role that has proved an immense strain on the company, its staff and Mr. Kuhn himself.”

Problems for the company have included changing technologies and forgoing a US DOE grant for a solar thermal plant and delaying the project so that it can shift the project to use PV modules. It has also had problems with former CEO Utz Claassen over settlement negotiations and paying back a multimillion signing on fee after being at the company for months, before resigning.

Read Next

April 10, 2026
Q&A: Sarah Montgomery, founder & CEO of Infyos, gives her take on the rise of co-location and growing tension in Europe's solar market.
April 10, 2026
The California Public Utilities Commission (CPUC) has issued a proposed decision rejecting a solar industry-backed Net Value Billing Tariff (NVBT) for community solar programmes, and instead advancing a compensation framework based on the Avoided Cost Calculator (ACC).  
April 10, 2026
The selling price of solar PV module technology types in Europe has continued to increase in March 2026, according to the latest report from online solar marketplace sun.store.
April 10, 2026
Singapore-based renewables firm Levanta Renewables has signed an engineering, procurement and construction (EPC) contract with China Energy Engineering Group (CEEC) for a solar-plus-storage project in the Philippines.
April 10, 2026
Signed into law by governor Janet Mills on 6 April 2026, LD 1730 allows the installation of plug-in systems of up to 1,200 watts.
April 10, 2026
India has become the third-largest country by installed renewable energy capacity, reaching 274.68, with over 150GW of solar PV capacity, according to statistics from the Ministry of New and Renewable Energy (MNRE).

Upcoming Events

Solar Media Events
April 15, 2026
Milan, Italy
Solar Media Events
June 16, 2026
Napa, USA
Solar Media Events
October 13, 2026
San Francisco Bay Area, USA
Solar Media Events
November 3, 2026
Málaga, Spain
Solar Media Events
November 24, 2026
Warsaw, Poland