Ulbrich Solar Technologies closes ribbon interconnect plant used by SolarWorld Americas

Facebook
Twitter
LinkedIn
Reddit
Email

Solar PV cell and module ribbon interconnect supplier Ulbrich Solar Technologies has closed its production operations in Hillsboro Oregon, due to operating difficulties of SolarWorld Americas after parent company SolarWorld AG went into insolvency proceedings. 

Local reports noted that the Ulbrich’s ribbon plant closed down on Friday 4th of August with potentially the loss of around 35 jobs. 

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

Only this week and further confirmations today have been made by former founder and chairman of SolarWorld AG, Dr. Ing. Eh Frank Asbeck that he had purchased and the courts approved his new company, SolarWorld Industries GmbH had acquired the manufacturing and R&D operations, SolarWorld Industries Sachsen GmbH, SolarWorld Innovations GmbH as well as SolarWorld Industries Thüringen GmbH.

Asbeck confirmed that Qatar Solar Technologies, a subsidiary of the not-for-profit Qatar Foundation was a shareholder with Asbeck in the new entity. 

SolarWorld Americas was attempting to operate in some capacity while its parent company and all its German subsidiaries went into bankruptcy and had previously stated that it would be receiving funds from SolarWorld AG investors. 

The decision by Ulbrich to close the plant supporting SolarWorld Americas manufacturing operations could potentially indicate production may have stopped, due to lack of recent financial support. 

Although Asbeck highlighted that production in Germany would restart next week, saving over 500 jobs, he did not mention SolarWorld Americas in a statement. 

7 October 2025
San Francisco Bay Area, USA
PV Tech has been running an annual PV CellTech Conference since 2016. PV CellTech USA, on 7-8 October 2025 is our third PV CellTech conference dedicated to the U.S. manufacturing sector. The events in 2023 and 2024 were a sell out success and 2025 will once again gather the key stakeholders from PV manufacturing, equipment/materials, policy-making and strategy, capital equipment investment and all interested downstream channels and third-party entities. The goal is simple: to map out PV manufacturing in the U.S. out to 2030 and beyond.

Read Next

September 18, 2025
Researchers have called for enhanced international standards to detect ultraviolet-induced degradation (UVID) in PV modules after identifying “severe” levels of the problem in operational n-type panels.             
September 18, 2025
Indian PV makers have welcomed the government’s plan to add solar wafers to its ALMM List-III from June 2028.
September 17, 2025
Chinese module producer DAS Solar is planning a 5GW manufacturing facility focused on producing high-efficiency back contact cells.
Premium
September 17, 2025
PV CellTech: Martin Pochtaruk, CEO of North American solar module manufacturer Heliene, says US producers must learn to survive without tax incentives.
September 16, 2025
IB Solar is investing INR30 billion (US$340 million) in a 4GW TOPCon solar cell and module manufacturing plant in Jewar, Uttar Pradesh.
September 15, 2025
Vikram Solar has secured a contract to supply 200MW of modules to AB Energia, a domestic solar engineering, procurement, and construction (EPC) solutions provider. 

Subscribe to Newsletter

Upcoming Events

Solar Media Events
September 30, 2025
Seattle, USA
Solar Media Events
October 1, 2025
London, UK
Solar Media Events
October 2, 2025
London,UK
Solar Media Events
October 7, 2025
Manila, Philippines
Solar Media Events
October 7, 2025
San Francisco Bay Area, USA