SolarWorld has laid the foundation stone at its third, and largest, module production facility in Freiberg in Saxony. The group is aiming to complete the fully-automated production facility for crystalline photovoltaic modules by the beginning of 2011.
The 26,000m2 plant, located on a plot of land in the Saxonia Industrial Park, will more than triple the annual production capacities at the Freiberg location to 450MW. Freiberg production lines will be turning out more than five modules per minute. According to current planning, some 200 new employees will be added in order to achieve these targets.
“SolarWorld is preparing with this expansion for the challenges of a dynamic market and the simultaneously growing Freiberg production. We will noticeably accelerate shipments and improve our service to customers, “said Frank Asbeck, chairman and CEO of SolarWorld.
Once the facility is complete in 2011, two million SolarWorld modules per annum are expected to be shipped from the Freiberg location.